air gun

noun

1

: a gun from which a projectile is propelled by compressed air

2

: any of various hand tools that work by compressed air

especially : airbrush

Examples of air gun in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One citation was issued related to possession of an air gun. —Mathew Miranda, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2025

In May, 14-year-old Damian Haglund took a Ruger .177 caliber pellet rifle — an air gun that shoots pellets and is mostly used for target shooting or hunting small animals — to Mount Horeb Middle School. —David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2024

In a search Thursday of the suspect's home, police found several airsoft guns — low-power air guns that fire plastic pellets and are often used recreationally — which resemble real firearms. —David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2024

Thursday's incident is the second potential averted school shooting to involve air guns in recent months in Wisconsin. —David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1753, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for air gun

• begun
• grandson
• gudrun
• handgun
• homespun
• outdone
• outrun
• pashtun
• redone
• rerun
• shotgun
• someone

Kids Definition

air gun

noun

1

: a gun that fires with a compressed gas (as air or carbon dioxide)

2

: any of various hand tools that work by compressed air

especially : airbrush

Medical Definition

air gun

noun

: jet injector

The UN [United Nations] would like air guns, delivering vaccine doses without using needles.

—Laurie Garrett, Newsday