semiautomatic

adjective

semi·​au·​to·​mat·​ic ˌse-mē-ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-tik 

ˌse-ˌmī-,

-mi-

: not fully automatic: such as

a

: operated partly automatically and partly by hand

b

of a firearm : able to fire repeatedly through an automatic reloading process but requiring release and another pressure of the trigger for each successive shot

a semiautomatic rifle

semiautomatic noun

semiautomatically

ˌse-mē-ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē 

ˌse-ˌmī-

-mi-

adverb

Examples of semiautomatic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Harlem rapper is facing serious allegations, charged with two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm in connection with an incident involving a former friend and fellow A$AP Mob member, A$AP Relli, whose real name is Terrell Ephron. —Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 23 Oct. 2024

In January, the father of two and boyfriend to Rihanna entered a new not-guilty plea to felony gun charges, including two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, according to Rolling Stone and The Guardian. —Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 22 Oct. 2024

Mayers, 36, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2024

Oregon and federal laws didn’t require background checks for purchasing semiautomatic rifles like an AK-47. —Corey G. Johnson, ProPublica, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above