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

Second Amendment advocates argue that bans on semiautomatic rifles do little to nothing to curb mass shootings. —Gabrielle M. Etzel, The Washington Examiner, 21 June 2025

Prosecutors ultimately charged her with firing a gun with gross negligence and assault with a semiautomatic firearm. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2025

Maryland's assault-weapons ban Maryland's prohibition on certain semiautomatic rifles was enacted in the wake of the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 2 June 2025

In 2019, lawmakers passed an amendment that also imposed the 30-day limit on semiautomatic rifle purchases. —Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 June 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