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gunrunning

American

[guhn-ruhn-ing] / ˈgʌnˌrʌn ɪŋ /

noun

the smuggling of guns gun or other ammunition into a country.

gunrunning British

/ ˈɡʌnˌrʌnɪŋ /

noun

the smuggling of guns and ammunition or other weapons of war into a country

"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

Other Word Forms

gunrunner noun

Etymology

Origin of gunrunning

First recorded in 1880–85; gun ¹ + running

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 has faced criticism over his most highly charged reports, including on the Fast and Furious gunrunning scandal.

From New York Times • Jun. 13, 2018

Lavinsky noted that Justice Department officials had similarly briefed the Obama White House in 2012 upon completion of its report on the gunrunning scandal known as Operation Fast and Furious.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 12, 2018

While in Cuba, Mr. Weintraub recounted being arrested and falsely accused of gunrunning.

From Washington Post • Mar. 8, 2017

Attorney Dennis Burke said at a news conference in Phoenix last week to announce the bust of the alleged gunrunning ring.

From Washington Post • Jan. 31, 2011

The term gunrunning brings to mind images of swift boats landing rifles on shadowy and foreign shores.

From Time Magazine Archive

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