small arm

noun

: a handheld firearm (such as a handgun or shoulder arm)

—usually used in plural

Synonyms of small arm

• firearm
• gun

Examples of small arm in a Sentence

the soldiers keep their small arms securely in their holsters when not on patrol

Recent Examples on the Web

Firefly enables precision strikes, achieving 2-7 feet accuracy from high altitudes (600-2000+ feet), thereby reducing vulnerability to small arms fire and jamming. — David Hambling, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

The area is also often used for smuggling of wildlife and small arms, the report says. — ABC News, 21 July 2026

Earlier, Rostec also highlighted that small arms’ performance characteristics remain unchanged when using the Mnogotochie, eliminating the need for modifications or installation of attachments. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 8 July 2026

Those women and girls made millions of rounds of small arms ammunition, as well as cannonballs and explosives for the war effort. — Christopher Derose, CBS News, 26 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1674, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for small arm

• alarm
• disarm
• forearm
• gendarme
• nonfarm
• rearm
• charm
• farm
• harm
• firearm
• underarm

Kids Definition

small arm

noun

: a firearm fired while held in the hands

—usually used in plural