semiautomatic
adjective
semi·au·to·mat·ic
ˌse-mē-ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-tik 
ˌse-ˌmī-,
-mi-
: not fully automatic: such as
a
: operated partly automatically and partly by hand
b
of a firearm
: able to fire repeatedly through an automatic reloading process but requiring release and another pressure of the trigger for each successive shot
a semiautomatic rifle
semiautomatic
noun
Examples of semiautomatic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In December 2019, a boy attending school in Glendale was caught with a Black Jimenez Model JA-Nine 9mm semiautomatic handgun in his waistband.
—
The Arizona Republic, 18 Apr. 2024
The Colorado State Patrol, which is responsible for security at the Capitol, reported that a semiautomatic firearm was found on the shelf of a single-occupancy unisex restroom.
—Natasha Lovato, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for semiautomatic 
The Arizona Republic, 18 Apr. 2024
The Colorado State Patrol, which is responsible for security at the Capitol, reported that a semiautomatic firearm was found on the shelf of a single-occupancy unisex restroom.
—Natasha Lovato, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for semiautomatic
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'semiautomatic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Semiautomatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semiautomatic. Accessed 7 May. 2024.
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