semiautomatic

[ sem-ee-aw-tuh-mat-ik, sem-ahy- ]

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.

noun

1. a self-loading rifle or other firearm.

semiautomatic

/ ˌsɛmɪˌɔːtəˈmætɪk /

adjective

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

noun

1. a semiautomatic firearm

Derived Forms

• ˌsemiˌautoˈmatically, adverb

Other Words From

• semi·auto·mati·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of semiautomatic¹

First recorded in 1890–95; semi- + automatic

Example Sentences

Now, still sitting on the floor, he braced for who would come for him first, fearing men with semiautomatic rifles.

From Washington Post

Instead, they were allowed inside by state police and stood in the gallery above the Senate chamber, toting semiautomatic rifles, staring down as lawmakers went about their business.

From FiveThirtyEight

Australian lawmakers responded with legislation that, among other provisions, banned certain types of firearms, such as automatic and semiautomatic rifles and shotguns.

From Vox

Armed with an AK-47-style semiautomatic rifle, Hunter fired off 13 rounds into an abandoned Minneapolis police precinct where hundreds of protesters had gathered, prosecutors allege.

From ProPublica

Authorities said a minivan pulled up and two assailants jumped out with semiautomatic handguns.

From Washington Post

On that December day in 2012, he used a Model XM15-E2s .233-caliber semiautomatic rifle with a 30-round magazine.

From The Daily Beast

She also made clear in the petition that her husband owned a 9-millimeter semiautomatic handgun.

From The Daily Beast

And I keep wondering what would have happened if his unquiet mother had hoarded books instead of semiautomatic weapons.

From The Daily Beast

Recently Senator Dianne Feinstein proposed a ban of semiautomatic and assault weapons along with high-capacity magazines.

From The Daily Beast

On that day, he bought an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle to add to his collection of weapons.

From The Daily Beast

No, sir; it was not the semiautomatic, it was a bolt action rifle, with a clip on it.

From Project Gutenberg

A semiautomatic rifle with carefully timed shots searched the area where he had been.

From Project Gutenberg