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

noun

1. a semiautomatic firearm

Other Word Forms

• semiautomatically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of semiautomatic¹

First recorded in 1890–95; semi- + automatic

Example Sentences

Still, it was a place to gather reinforcements, so the convoy stopped under the town’s welcome arch and officers wielding AR-15 semiautomatic weapons found high ground to watch for threats.

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Still, during several holdups, he has fired his semiautomatic handgun into a wall “to show people he means business,” and he once shot a telephone to prevent employees from calling police, Van Winkle said.

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The lawsuit states the only justification for banning a firearm is when the weapon is “dangerous and unusual” and argues that semiautomatic pistols are neither.

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The department shared photos of a semiautomatic handgun with a wrapped grip and attached flashlight that authorities say belonged to the suspect, who has not been identified.

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At prosecutors' request, the agent stood before the jury holding the SKS semiautomatic rifle they allege Routh obtained illegally and used in the assassination attempt.

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