ghost gun

American  

[gohst guhn] / ˈgoʊst ˌgʌn /

noun

1. a gun that does not have a serial number and cannot be easily traced, especially one assembled at home from parts purchased without a background check.

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Etymology

Origin of ghost gun

First recorded in 2010–15

Example Sentences

But there will always be the possibility of a ghost gun appearing in an investigation.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2024

Manufacturers of ghost gun kits are now required to include serial numbers on their products, and perform background checks on the purchasers.

From BBC • Dec. 10, 2024

For years, ghost gun companies sold kits online to consumers that contained the parts necessary to build a handgun or AR-15–style rifle.

From Slate • Sep. 30, 2024

Officials accused the three companies of undermining the federal Gun Control Act by selling the ghost gun kits without doing point-of-sale requirements, including background checks.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2024

Elias Smith, a 24-year-old ex-Marine, had stepped to his front door with a so-called ghost gun, an AR-style rifle that Mr. Smith had assembled from parts ordered online.

From New York Times • May 20, 2024