1
: a handgun whose chamber is integral with the barrel
broadly
: handgun
2
: a notably sharp, spirited, or energetic person
pistol
transitive verb
Examples of pistol in a Sentence
a real pistol, she dances rings around the other performers
Recent Examples on the Web
According to federal authorities, Morales Tejada in October 2023 was convicted in Superior Court in Connecticut on charges of carrying a pistol without a permit and first-degree failure to appear.
—
Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 Feb. 2026
Smith’s waders started to fill with water, and the pistol strapped to his chest felt like a weight pulling him under.
—Emilee Coblentz, Outside, 11 Feb. 2026
In the elaborate opening sequence, Davis steals some hot diamonds from a local jeweler and his assistants, which involves stopping them in cars and getting lucky enough to just be missed by a bullet fired from an ancient faulty pistol.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 11 Feb. 2026
Seconds later, Exum, who was driving with his Glock pistol in his right hand, appeared to jerk the steering wheel to the left, in the direction of Martínez’s vehicle alongside them.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pistol
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Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 Feb. 2026
Smith’s waders started to fill with water, and the pistol strapped to his chest felt like a weight pulling him under.
—Emilee Coblentz, Outside, 11 Feb. 2026
In the elaborate opening sequence, Davis steals some hot diamonds from a local jeweler and his assistants, which involves stopping them in cars and getting lucky enough to just be missed by a bullet fired from an ancient faulty pistol.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 11 Feb. 2026
Seconds later, Exum, who was driving with his Glock pistol in his right hand, appeared to jerk the steering wheel to the left, in the direction of Martínez’s vehicle alongside them.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pistol
Cite this Entry
“Pistol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pistol. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pistol
noun
pis·tol
ˈpis-tᵊl 
: a short firearm made to be aimed and fired with one hand
Etymology
from early French pistole "pistol," from German pistole (same meaning), derived from Czech píšt'ala, literally, "pipe, fife"
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