semiautomatic

American  

[sem-ee-aw-tuh-mat-ik, sem-ahy-] / ˌsɛm iˌɔ təˈmæt ɪk, ˌsɛm aɪ- /

adjective

1. partly automatic.

2. (of a firearm) automatically ejecting the cartridge case of a fired shot and loading the next cartridge from the magazine but requiring a squeeze of the trigger to fire each individual shot.

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noun

1. a self-loading rifle or other firearm.

semiautomatic British  

/ ˌsɛmɪˌɔːtəˈmætɪk /

adjective

1. partly automatic

2. (of a firearm) self-loading but firing only one shot at each pull of the trigger Compare automatic

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noun

1. a semiautomatic firearm

Other Word Forms

• semiautomatically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of semiautomatic

First recorded in 1890–95; semi- + automatic

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

semiautomatic

Since 1989, California has prohibited the sale and possession of most semiautomatic rifles and pistols that can fire more than 10 shots before reloading.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026

Australia banned most automatic and semiautomatic guns, introduced strict licensing requirements and implemented a gun buyback program.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 15, 2025

Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation said they found a SKS semiautomatic rifle with a scope and extended magazine in the area where Routh was hiding.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2025

More recently, the department settled a lawsuit over forced-reset triggers, in the process allowing the sale of aftermarket devices that boost a semiautomatic rifle’s rate of fire.

From Slate ● Jun. 4, 2025

There were four of them—all white, all wearing jeans and sweatshirts and baseball caps and bulletproof vests, and all carrying police-issue 9-millimeter semiautomatic handguns.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell