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
In December 2019, a boy attending school in Glendale was caught with a Black Jimenez Model JA-Nine 9mm semiautomatic handgun in his waistband.
—
The Arizona Republic, 18 Apr. 2024
The Colorado State Patrol, which is responsible for security at the Capitol, reported that a semiautomatic firearm was found on the shelf of a single-occupancy unisex restroom.
—Natasha Lovato, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
Here are key pieces of evidence the prosecution showed jurors at James Crumbley’s trial:
On Nov. 26, 2021, James Crumbley and his son went to an Oxford gun store and bought a Sig Sauer 9mm semiautomatic pistol.
—Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 15 Mar. 2024
Prosecutors allege Walker was in communication with the juveniles via cell phone during the incident that ended with Jackson being pistol-whipped and shot three times in the back with a Beretta 9mm semiautomatic pistol.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2024
California’s 1989 assault weapons ban prohibits AR-15 models and other semiautomatic firearms with certain features in addition to fully automatic firearms.
—Gabrielle Lamarr Lemee, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
In December 2022, Lanez was convicted of three felonies for shooting Megan, including assault with a semiautomatic firearm that left the hip-hop star with bullet fragments in her feet.
—Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024
The semiautomatic rifles that have wrought human carnage from an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., to a Walmart in El Paso are also being used to menace the Haitian government and terrorize the population.
—Amanda Coletta, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Youngkin also signed identical House and Senate bills prohibiting the manufacture, sale or possession of an auto sear, a device used to convert a semiautomatic firearm into an automatic weapon.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
The Arizona Republic, 18 Apr. 2024
The Colorado State Patrol, which is responsible for security at the Capitol, reported that a semiautomatic firearm was found on the shelf of a single-occupancy unisex restroom.
—Natasha Lovato, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
Here are key pieces of evidence the prosecution showed jurors at James Crumbley’s trial:
On Nov. 26, 2021, James Crumbley and his son went to an Oxford gun store and bought a Sig Sauer 9mm semiautomatic pistol.
—Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 15 Mar. 2024
Prosecutors allege Walker was in communication with the juveniles via cell phone during the incident that ended with Jackson being pistol-whipped and shot three times in the back with a Beretta 9mm semiautomatic pistol.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2024
California’s 1989 assault weapons ban prohibits AR-15 models and other semiautomatic firearms with certain features in addition to fully automatic firearms.
—Gabrielle Lamarr Lemee, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
In December 2022, Lanez was convicted of three felonies for shooting Megan, including assault with a semiautomatic firearm that left the hip-hop star with bullet fragments in her feet.
—Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024
The semiautomatic rifles that have wrought human carnage from an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., to a Walmart in El Paso are also being used to menace the Haitian government and terrorize the population.
—Amanda Coletta, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Youngkin also signed identical House and Senate bills prohibiting the manufacture, sale or possession of an auto sear, a device used to convert a semiautomatic firearm into an automatic weapon.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'semiautomatic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near semiautomatic
Cite this Entry
“Semiautomatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semiautomatic. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
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