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
Binary triggers allow a semiautomatic weapon to fire both when the trigger is pulled and released, increasing its rate of fire.
—
Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 6 Nov. 2025
In his interview with deputies, the victim's then-14-year-old son told investigators that his father had been beating his mother for two days using a shoe, a belt, a semiautomatic weapon and even a flag pole, per the probable cause affidavit.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2025
Sheriff’s officials said investigators found four firearms, including a rifle and a semiautomatic handgun without serial numbers, two additional handguns and a 30-round rifle magazine loaded with armor-piercing ammunition.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Snowling carried a revolver in his right hand and a semiautomatic handgun in his left.
—Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 22 Oct. 2025
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Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 6 Nov. 2025
In his interview with deputies, the victim's then-14-year-old son told investigators that his father had been beating his mother for two days using a shoe, a belt, a semiautomatic weapon and even a flag pole, per the probable cause affidavit.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2025
Sheriff’s officials said investigators found four firearms, including a rifle and a semiautomatic handgun without serial numbers, two additional handguns and a 30-round rifle magazine loaded with armor-piercing ammunition.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Snowling carried a revolver in his right hand and a semiautomatic handgun in his left.
—Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for semiautomatic
Cite this Entry
“Semiautomatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semiautomatic. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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