semiautomatic

adjective

semi·​au·​to·​mat·​ic ˌse-mē-ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-tik How to pronounce semiautomatic (audio)
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 adverb

Examples of semiautomatic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Authorities located a 9-millimeter Glock semiautomatic handgun and three empty magazines at the scene, the sheriff said at a press conference Saturday. Dalia Faheid, CNN, 16 June 2024 The building has remained mostly untouched since gunman Nikolas Cruz burst through the door on Feb. 14, 2018, with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle, and carried out the deadliest mass shooting at a high school in United States history. Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 14 June 2024 Other district court judges are reconsidering a second challenge to the assault weapons ban and a challenge to California’s law barring certain semiautomatic rifle sales to adults younger than 21. Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2024 Maryland's ban on certain semiautomatic rifles was enacted in the wake of the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 20 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for semiautomatic 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'semiautomatic.' 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

1853, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of semiautomatic was in 1853

Dictionary Entries Near semiautomatic

Cite this Entry

“Semiautomatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semiautomatic. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.

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