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

semiautomatically

ˌse-mē-ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē 

ˌse-ˌmī-

-mi-

adverb

Examples of semiautomatic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Deputies seized Nathan’s 12 firearms, including semiautomatic shotguns, rifles and handguns, six suppressors and 660 rounds of ammunition. —Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2025

After this exchange, Holder left the scene but returned a short time later, armed with a revolver and a semiautomatic handgun. —Kelsey Lentz, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025

Read more Colorado lawmakers pass 3 gun-control measures including bill limiting sale of semiautomatic weapons Colorado lawmakers on Friday sent three gun-control measures regulating the sale of ammunition and firearms to Gov. Jared Polis’ desk for passage into law. —The Denver Post, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2025

And semiautomatic rifles may be purchased if the young adult is an active law enforcement officer or member of the military. —Christian Martinez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for semiautomatic

• antidemocratic
• bacteriostatic
• heterochromatic
• idiosyncratic
• nonadiabatic
• paleoclimatic
• achromatic
• acrobatic
• adriatic
• aliphatic
• antistatic
• aromatic