weapon

American  

[wep-uhn] / ˈwɛp ən /

noun

• weapons
  plural

1. any instrument or device for use in attack or defense in combat, fighting, or war, as a sword, rifle, or cannon.

2. anything used against an opponent, adversary, or victim.

   the deadly weapon of satire.

3. Zoology. any part or organ serving for attack or defense, as claws, horns, teeth, or stings.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to supply or equip with a weapon or weapons.

   to weapon aircraft with heat-seeking missiles.

weapon British  

/ ˈwɛpən /

noun

1. an object or instrument used in fighting

2. anything that serves to outwit or get the better of an opponent

   his power of speech was his best weapon

3. any part of an animal that is used to defend itself, to attack prey, etc, such as claws, teeth, horns, or a sting

4. a slang word for penis

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• superweapon
  noun
• outweaponed
  adjective
• unweaponed
  adjective
• weaponed
  adjective
• weaponless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• weapons
  plural

Etymology

Origin of weapon

First recorded before 900; Middle English wepen, Old English wǣpen; cognate with German Waffe, Old Norse vāpn, Gothic wēpna (plural)

Explanation

A weapon is something used to hurt someone. Soldiers use weapons like guns and even sometimes use "weapons of mass destruction" — like bombs. In school, the only weapon you should use is a spitball. A solider engaging in battle needs a weapon, as does a police officer defending herself against a violent attacker. Some weapons are specially designed for killing or injuring, such as guns and crossbows, while in other cases an ordinary object, like a stick, can be used as a weapon. The Old English root is wæpen, "instrument of fighting or defense." The spelling is tricky, and most people just have to memorize the ea in weapon.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

weapon weapons

These young performers are the film’s secret weapon, since in practical, lived terms they bear the brunt of the existential hand-wringing on the part of all the adults.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

The weapon dropped to the ground under the signals onslaught unleashed from his vehicle.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

Officials have not said what was used as a weapon in the attack.

From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026

"In those really close and important moments, I tried to use it because it was a really good weapon for me in this match."

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026

In the hands of this thing, the weapon looks deadly.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

The number of officers who fired their weapons is being investigated.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

Speaking at a ceremony in the capital Bissau on Wednesday, Horta N'Tam called on guard members still holding weapons to hand them over as soon as possible.

From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026

Their security team is led by Savage, with a crew of dedicated lesbians and a few men with guard cards to make sure no weapons enter the party, practicing deescalation, conflict resolution and mediation.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026

We choose to reach for new frontiers: in advanced manufacturing and superintelligence; in drones, weapons and warfare; in chips, minerals, cyber and every other domain of human possibility.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

Soviet air defense had improved its weapons, but the American pilot would have to fly near enough to a missile base to give them a decent shot.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• ammunition
• bomb
• cannon
• firearm
• gun
• knife
• machete
• machine gun
• missile
• nerve gas
• pistol
• revolver
• rifle
• shotgun
• sword
• tear gas