semiautomatic

adjective semi·au·to·mat·ic \ ˌse-mē-ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-tik , ˌse-ˌmī- , -mi- \

|Updated on: 25 Jul 2018

Definition of semiautomatic

: 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

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semiautomatic

noun

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semiautomatically

play \ˌse-mē-ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē, ˌse-ˌmī-, -mi-\ adverb

See semiautomatic defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of semiautomatic from the Web

Paddock used a bump-stock attachment that made his semiautomatic rifle fire nearly as rapidly as an automatic weapon — nine percussive bangs every second.

— cleve r. wootson jr., Washington Post, "An Indiana educator survived the mass shooting in Las Vegas — and then a shooting at her school," 10 June 2018
Our truck had spotlights and light bars on the front and sides, a radio, an onboard camera and semiautomatic rifles.

— jason florio, Smithsonian, "The Dangerous Work of Relocating 5,000-Pound Rhinos," 22 May 2018
These high-velocity, high-capacity weapons are particularly deadly, even more so than other semiautomatic firearms such as handguns.

— german lopez, Vox, "The Santa Fe High School shooting shows why an assault weapons ban can’t solve America’s gun problem," 21 May 2018
But public ownership of automatic and semiautomatic weapons is banned.

— new york times, BostonGlobe.com, "7 dead in Australia’s worst mass shooting since 1996," 11 May 2018
On March 12, the gun manufacturer Sturm Ruger addressed shareholder concerns in a letter that promised to continue manufacturing and selling semiautomatic firearms, or what the industry refers to as modern sporting rifles.

— tiffany hsu, New York Times, "Citigroup Sets Restrictions on Gun Sales by Business Partners," 22 Mar. 2018
He was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, one count of maliciously destroying U.S. property and placing lives in danger, and one count of using and carrying a semiautomatic weapon during the attack.

— Fox News, "Benghazi mastermind sentenced to 22 years in prison on federal terrorism charges," 27 June 2018
Prosecutors say King and Proctor fired about 17 shots from .40-caliber semiautomatic weapons at Dudley as Dudley stopped the car, then fired shots at the two men.

— keith l. alexander, Washington Post, "Three D.C. men plead guilty in fatal shooting of American University graduate," 8 June 2018
The country music event was taking place October 1 just across the street from the Mandalay Bay resort, from where a gunman was firing a multitude of semiautomatic weapons at the suddenly panicked crowd of 22,000.

— steve almasy, CNN, "Las Vegas massacre 911 calls give glimpse of panic as gunfire rained down," 6 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'semiautomatic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.