Synonyms

popgun

American

[pop-guhn] / ˈpɒpˌgʌn /

noun

a child's toy gun from which a pellet is shot by compressed air, producing a loud pop.

popgun British

/ ˈpɒpˌɡʌn /

noun

a toy gun that fires a pellet or cork by means of compressed air and makes a popping sound

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of popgun

First recorded in 1655–65; pop ¹ + gun ¹

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.

See Examples For:

popgun

They wanted to be a bazooka, but so far they're positively popgun.

From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2026

It was a popgun approach when the Giants need a howitzer, and it did not end well.

From New York Times ● Dec. 10, 2017

And it’s finished off with a “BNAG” flag stuck, popgun style, into its barrel.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 28, 2017

The Chiefs’ popgun offense and stingy defense carried them to a 9-7 record last season, barely missing out on the playoffs on the final Sunday of the regular season.

From Washington Times ● Jul. 28, 2015

Well... a popgun would have done me just as well in the end.’

From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023