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
According to Schubert, during his second arrest, Weathers was in possession of a semiautomatic handgun in the vicinity of Del Paso Heights Elementary School when riding down the wrong side of the street on a bicycle.
—
Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 1 June 2026
Authorities recovered a silver .25 caliber semiautomatic pistol and 14 rounds of ammunition, officials said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 27 May 2026
Hughes, who is the boyfriend of Jamonte's mother, was at the home at the time of the shooting, and officers found a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun with a laser sight between two layers of clothing on the top shelf of a bedroom closet, according to a police report.
—Todd Feurer, CBS News, 26 May 2026
Cole Tomas Allen, who authorities say rushed a banquet room at the White House correspondents’ dinner on Saturday night, had legally bought a 12-gauge shotgun at the Turner’s location in his hometown of Torrance, as well as a semiautomatic pistol at CAP Tactical Firearms in neighboring Lawndale.
—Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for semiautomatic
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 1 June 2026
Authorities recovered a silver .25 caliber semiautomatic pistol and 14 rounds of ammunition, officials said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 27 May 2026
Hughes, who is the boyfriend of Jamonte's mother, was at the home at the time of the shooting, and officers found a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun with a laser sight between two layers of clothing on the top shelf of a bedroom closet, according to a police report.
—Todd Feurer, CBS News, 26 May 2026
Cole Tomas Allen, who authorities say rushed a banquet room at the White House correspondents’ dinner on Saturday night, had legally bought a 12-gauge shotgun at the Turner’s location in his hometown of Torrance, as well as a semiautomatic pistol at CAP Tactical Firearms in neighboring Lawndale.
—Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for semiautomatic
Cite this Entry
“Semiautomatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semiautomatic. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
