automatic rifle

American  

noun

1. a type of light machine gun capable of firing automatically or in single shots.

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Etymology

Origin of automatic rifle

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Because of the proliferation of illegal guns, Chief Contee says the weaponry people use to commit crimes has evolved from revolvers to semiautomatic weapons to “ghost guns” and even automatic rifles.

From Washington Post

The soldiers were armed with automatic rifles and a few machine guns.

From New York Times

State police discovered the five men in a black pickup truck in the city center with three automatic rifles and a note, signed by the Scorpions, a faction of the Gulf Cartel.

From Washington Post

They put an automatic rifle to the boy’s head, she said, but ultimately let them go.

From New York Times

"There was slackness after years of normalcy in the region and now we are training and reorganising them to prevent any such attacks. We have also provided automatic rifles to some."

From Reuters