AR-15
AmericanEtymology
Origin of AR-15
First recorded in 1960–65; shortening of ArmaLite Rifle, not of assault rifle ( def. ), as commonly thought
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He is co-author of the book "American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15."
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026
Guest: Cameron McWhirter, national affairs reporter for The Wall Street Journal covering mass shootings, violent protests, and natural disasters across the South and author of American Gun: the True Story of the AR-15.
From Slate • Sep. 25, 2024
Officials accuse him of allowing his son to possess an AR-15 style rifle.
From BBC • Sep. 8, 2024
The weapon used by the apparent shooter Saturday was a semiautomatic AR-15, law enforcement sources say.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 15, 2024
The Department authorized use of the AR-15 rifle only up to a distance of about a hundred yards, be-cause accuracy deteriorated so much with the additional distance.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
