stun gun

noun

: a weapon designed to stun or immobilize (as by electric shock) rather than kill or injure the one affected

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web He was fired and charged departmentally – not criminally – over policy violations related to personal conduct, truthfulness and compliance with regulations governing a stun gun, uniform, inventory and recovered property processing, according to the Memphis Police Department. Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN, 2 May 2023 Former Minnesota police officer Kim Potter, who was convicted of accidentally killing 20-year-old Daunte Wright after mistaking her firearm for her stun gun, was freed from prison Monday, officials said. Rebecca Rosenberg, Fox News, 24 Apr. 2023 Another officer attempted to use a stun gun. Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 25 Feb. 2023 The stun gun/walking stick can deliver a 950,000-volt shock. Bill Bowden, Arkansas Online, 18 Jan. 2023 Officers then ordered the man to drop the knife, and one officer discharged his stun gun. Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 10 Dec. 2022 Those stories include the McCurtain Gazette-News investigation into the death of Bobby Barrick, who lives in the town of Broken Bow and who died in March 2022 after McCurtain County deputies shot him with a stun gun. Corky Siemaszko, NBC News, 20 Apr. 2023 According to the videos, an altercation ensued, and police shocked Mr. Feliz’s brother with a stun gun. Harry Bruinius, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Mar. 2023 Along with breaking rules regarding the use of a stun gun, Hemphill was also fired for violations of personal conduct and truthfulness, police said in a statement. Adrian Sainz, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Feb. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stun gun.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stun gun was in 1967

Dictionary Entries Near stun gun

Cite this Entry

“Stun gun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stun%20gun. Accessed 9 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

stun gun

noun
: a weapon designed to stun or immobilize (as by electric shock) rather than kill or injure

More from Merriam-Webster on stun gun

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