weapon

[wep-uhn]

noun

1. any instrument or device for use in attack or defense in combat, fighting, or war, as a sword, rifle, or cannon.

2. anything used against an opponent, adversary, or victim.

   the deadly weapon of satire.

3. Zoology.,  any part or organ serving for attack or defense, as claws, horns, teeth, or stings.

verb (used with object)

1. to supply or equip with a weapon or weapons.

   to weapon aircraft with heat-seeking missiles.

weapon

/ ˈwɛpən /

noun

1. an object or instrument used in fighting

2. anything that serves to outwit or get the better of an opponent

   his power of speech was his best weapon

3. any part of an animal that is used to defend itself, to attack prey, etc, such as claws, teeth, horns, or a sting

4. a slang word for penis

Other Word Forms

• weaponed adjective
• weaponless adjective
• outweaponed adjective
• superweapon noun
• unweaponed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of weapon¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English wepen, Old English wǣpen; cognate with German Waffe, Old Norse vāpn, Gothic wēpna (plural)

Word History and Origins

Origin of weapon¹

Old English wǣpen; related to Old Norse vápn, Old Frisian wēpen, Old High German wāffan

Example Sentences

In small factories across America, agile automatons are making everything from parts for AI supercomputers to the hulls of America’s future autonomous naval weapons.

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Other Hamas officials have said handing over weapons would only occur as part of a move towards an independent Palestinian state.

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The sudden decline of one of their most dependable weapons was hardly Baltimore’s only problem.

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The Chargers ultimately selected him with the 21st pick in the draft, hoping he’d turn into the top weapon in Herbert’s arsenal.

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“Our school parking lots are not for ICE to load their weapons,” he said at a news conference.

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Related Words

• ammunition 
• bomb 
• cannon 
• firearm 
• gun 
• knife 
• machete 
• machine gun 
• missile 
• nerve gas 
• pistol 
• revolver 
• rifle 
• shotgun 
• sword 
• tear gas