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
The Georgia jury was not so forgiving of a parent who gave an AR-15 to a 14-year-old child.
From Slate • Mar. 5, 2026
The firearms include one AR-15 rifle and two 9mm semiautomatic pistols.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 16, 2024
Officials accuse him of allowing his son to possess an AR-15 style rifle.
From BBC • Sep. 8, 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
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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.