firearm

noun

fire·​arm ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌärm How to pronounce firearm (audio)
Synonyms of firearmnext
: a weapon from which a shot is discharged by gunpowder
usually used of small arms

Synonyms of firearm

Examples of firearm in a Sentence

revolvers, rifles, and other firearms will need a permit to carry a firearm
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.
That includes some of the firearms used in the 2020 mass shooting that pushed Canada’s government to adopt the buyback. Max Saltman, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026 Equipped with firearms and wearing camouflage, Thompson then fatally shot four others -- including an off-duty city police officer -- in his neighborhood and along a greenway. Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026 The firearm recovered at the scene was later determined to be an imitation firearm. Brandon Downs, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026 The law, if passed, would require buyers to either provide a license for the firearm or undergo an instant background check using the FBI National Instant Background Check System. Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for firearm

Word History

First Known Use

1643, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of firearm was in 1643

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Firearm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firearm. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

firearm

noun
fire·​arm ˈfī(ə)r-ˌärm How to pronounce firearm (audio)
: a weapon from which a shot is discharged by gunpowder
usually used only of small arms

More from Merriam-Webster on firearm

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