ghost gun
noun
plural ghost guns
: a gun that lacks a serial number by which it can be identified and that is typically assembled by the user (as from purchased or homemade components)
Ghost guns, cobbled together with various parts often purchased separately, are popular among hobbyists and firearms enthusiasts.—
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
St. Louis Post-DispatchThe issue centers on so-called ghost guns, which consist of untraceable parts that can be ordered online and then, with a little finishing work, assembled into a working firearm.—Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles TimesEven so, they haven't been outlawed; buying or selling a ghost gun is illegal, but making one remains kosher under US gun control laws.—Andy Greenberg
Andy GreenbergExamples of ghost gun in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
One hundred and fifty ghost guns were seized in New York City in 2020.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 19 July 2025
Prosecutors say Mangione used a homemade ghost gun equipped with a silencer and shot Thompson twice at close range before fleeing the scene.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 18 July 2025
Large majorities support banning untraceable ghost guns, requiring a license to purchase a firearm, and passing red flag laws that remove guns from someone who poses an immediate threat.
—Tim Ryan, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
And the ghost gun decision was authored by Gorsuch, who is no fan of a booning administrative state.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ghost gun
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Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 19 July 2025
Prosecutors say Mangione used a homemade ghost gun equipped with a silencer and shot Thompson twice at close range before fleeing the scene.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 18 July 2025
Large majorities support banning untraceable ghost guns, requiring a license to purchase a firearm, and passing red flag laws that remove guns from someone who poses an immediate threat.
—Tim Ryan, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
And the ghost gun decision was authored by Gorsuch, who is no fan of a booning administrative state.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ghost gun
Cite this Entry
“Ghost gun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ghost%20gun. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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