weapon

American  

[wep-uhn] / ˈwɛp ən /

noun

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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of weapon

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

Example Sentences

But she repeatedly claimed that the ICE agent fired in self-defence and that Good used her vehicle as a "deadly weapon" against agents.

From BBC

"They had access to superior weapons and were well kitted out, whereas Indians were poorly equipped with semi-automatic rifles and a limited supply of 600 bullets for each soldier," he says.

From BBC

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has made overhauling the way the Pentagon buys weapons a priority—saying the department would broaden its range of vendors with more startups and commercial companies.

From The Wall Street Journal

It plans to spend billions of dollars on new weapons such as ships and aircraft.

From The Wall Street Journal

Most air weapons do not require a licence, but no-one who has been sentenced to three or more years in jail can use one, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

From BBC

Related Words

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