AK-47

American  

[ey-key-fawr-tee-sev-uhn] / ˈeɪˈkeɪˈfɔr tiˈsɛv ən /

noun

1. a Soviet-designed, gas-operated, magazine-fed assault rifle with a caliber of 7.62 millimeters, used for automatic or semiautomatic fire.

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AK-47 British  

noun

1. a type of Kalashnikov assault rifle

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Etymology

Origin of AK-47

First recorded in 1947; from Russian A(vtomat) K(alashnikova), automatic gun of Kalashnikov, after Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov (1919–2013), Soviet arms engineer

Example Sentences

"The heavy weapon, the one that does the most damage, is called an AK-47," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said recently.

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

Foster, a 28-year-old white Air Force veteran, was legally carrying an AK-47 rifle.

From Seattle Times • May 17, 2024

The U.S. military’s Central Command said in a statement on Wednesday that earlier this week it had transferred about 1.1 million rounds for AK-47 machine guns seized from Iran to Ukraine’s armed forces.

From New York Times • Oct. 4, 2023

Police said they found an AK-47, a handgun, and boxes and bags of ammunition in Sandow’s vehicle, including five extra magazines for the AK-47 and six extra magazines for the handgun.

From Washington Times • May 24, 2023

I lay on my back in the tent with my AK-47 on my chest and the G3 I had brought with me leaning on the peg of the tent.

From "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah