Definition of weapon
1 : something (such as a club, knife, or gun) used to injure, defeat, or destroy
2 : a means of contending against another
From the M-W Editors
Examples of weapon in a Sentence
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 of weapon from the Web
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In recent years the penalties for carrying knives have been toughened, but this may have encouraged crooks to turn to alternative weapons.
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Le didn’t have any weapons and had never gotten into a fight before, his parents said through a translator.
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The BCA also said no weapons were found at the scene.
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Simpson, now 70, is approaching the nine-year minimum of his 33-year sentence for armed robbery and assault with a weapon.
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But Park Geun-hye, a conservative president of South Korea who has since been impeached and removed from office, rejected the offer, calling it insincere and demanding that the North first move toward dismantling its nuclear weapons program.
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Solomon Pule, 18, of Baltimore, was charged with drug possession, theft and resisting arrest; and Alex Jeffrey Stanley, 18, of Brooklyn, was charged with drug possession, theft and weapon violations.
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Foreman was charged with marijuana possession and unlawful carrying of a weapon, both misdemeanors, and released on bond.
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The president of the United States and the president of France have weaponized an ancient gesture invented to signal the absence of weapons.
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.
Origin and Etymology of weapon
Middle English wepen, from Old English wǣpen; akin to Old High German wāffan weapon, Old Norse vāpn
First Known Use of weapon
before 12th century
WEAPON Defined for English Language Learners
weapon
playDefinition of weapon for English Language Learners
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: 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
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: something (such as a skill, idea, or tool) that is used to win a contest or achieve something
WEAPON Defined for Kids
weapon
playDefinition of weapon for Students
: something (as a gun, knife, or club) to fight with
Learn More about weapon
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Spanish Central: Translation of weapon Nglish: Translation of weapon for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of weapon for Arabic speakers
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