assault weapon

noun

Synonyms of assault weapon next

: any of various automatic or semiautomatic firearms

especially : assault rifle

Examples of assault weapon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

In addition to the lawsuit filed against California, the Second Amendment Section also filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Virginia, challenging a new law limiting the sale of firearms the state defines as assault weapons. —

Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026 Days before it was set to take effect, a judge in rural Virginia has temporarily blocked the state from enforcing a new assault weapons ban, ruling that the law is probably unconstitutional. —

Liam Bowman, Washington Post, 26 June 2026 Spanberger’s assault weapons ban would have prohibited the future sale, purchase, import, manufacture, and transfer of assault weapons in the Old Dominion. —

Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 25 June 2026 Gun sales in Virginia have surged in recent months ahead of a July 1 ban on the sale of assault weapons, according to data from the FBI. —

Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for assault weapon

Word History

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of assault weapon was in 1968

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Browse Nearby Words

assault rifle

assault weapon

assay

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Assault weapon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assault%20weapon. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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