weapon

noun

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weap·on | \ ˈwe-pən

Definition of weapon

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : something (such as a club, knife, or gun) used to injure, defeat, or destroy

2 : a means of contending against another

weapon

verb

weaponed; weaponing; weapons

Definition of weapon (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: arm

Examples of weapon in a Sentence

Noun assault with a deadly weapon The pitcher's slider is his most effective weapon. a new weapon in the fight against cancer The mayor's campaign unleashed its secret weapon.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey reported on Sept. 15 that his Glock 17 service weapon had been stolen that day, apparently from inside his girlfriend’s car, Kenosha Police Lt. Joseph Nosalik told the TV station. — NBC News, "Wisconsin cop who shot Jacob Blake had service weapon stolen," 3 May 2021 But people don’t realize that in his mind, his biggest weapon is the ability to hurt a defense through the air. — Dan Wiederer, chicagotribune.com, "Justin Fields has star potential and already has changed the mood in Chicago. Can he alter the Bears’ wayward QB history?," 2 May 2021 Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey reported on Sept. 15 that his Glock 17 service weapon had been stolen that day, apparently from inside his girlfriend's car, Kenosha Police Lt. Joseph Nosalik told the TV station. — Fox News, "Wisconsin cop who shot Jacob Blake had service weapon stolen," 2 May 2021 His new weapon was stolen from the glovebox of his girlfriend's car Sept. 15, 2020 and reported the next day. — Barnini Chakraborty, Washington Examiner, "Jacob Blake shooter leaves loaner gun in unlocked car seven months prior to three-day suspension," 1 May 2021 Montiel then chased him on foot, firing his weapon after seeing Melvin turn his head while holding a gun in his waistband. — Grace Toohey, orlandosentinel.com, "Family of Salaythis Melvin grieve, keep waiting for justice in his death," 1 May 2021 Flores fired his own weapon as Hampton attempted to stand up, and after critics argued that Hampton was no longer an immediate threat. — Megan Cassidy, San Francisco Chronicle, "S.F. district attorney's office re-files felony assault charges against man shot by police," 30 Apr. 2021 His weapon of choice was a nuclear torpedo that would have not only destroyed the Cony but also badly damaged all of the other U.S. ships in the vicinity. — Washington Post, "Nuclear Folly: A History of the Cuban Missile Crisis," 30 Apr. 2021 An officer fires his weapon several times, killing Alvarez. — Zoe Christen Jones, CBS News, "Videos show police fatally shooting Anthony Alvarez in Chicago," 29 Apr. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Another officer had a taser ready, while the third officer had no taser or weapon out, Fields added. — Alaa Elassar, CNN, "Campus police in Texas stormed a dorm room after a false report was filed against a student, lawyer says," 30 Sep. 2020 Recent reports, though, have claimed rubber bullets are still being used, and tracking which weapons individual police departments use is difficult. — David Z. Morris, Fortune, "Everything to know about rubber bullets and their risks," 4 June 2020 Each crime fit the same modus operandi including the suspect’s build and weapon description, the report said. — John R. Ellement, BostonGlobe.com, "Boston police arrest suspect in 24 armed robberies," 6 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'weapon.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

5 May 2021

Cite this Entry

“Weapon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weapon. Accessed 7 May. 2021.

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More Definitions for weapon

weapon

noun

English Language Learners Definition of weapon

: something (such as a gun, knife, club, or bomb) that is used for fighting or attacking someone or for defending yourself when someone is attacking you

: something (such as a skill, idea, or tool) that is used to win a contest or achieve something

See the full definition for weapon in the English Language Learners Dictionary

weapon

noun

weap·on | \ ˈwe-pən