weapon

[wep-uhn]

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.

verb (used with object)

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

   to weapon aircraft with heat-seeking missiles.

weapon

/ 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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of weapon¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of weapon¹

Old English wǣpen; related to Old Norse vápn, Old Frisian wēpen, Old High German wāffan

Example Sentences

By 2030, U.S. and Chinese superintelligences conspire together to wrest control of Earth from humanity, using biological weapons to wipe out all but a few submarine crews and people hiding in bunkers.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He previously was found guilty of burglary, grand theft, assault with a deadly weapon, making criminal threats and evading a peace officer, among other charges.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Midthunder’s Naru is not a divine weapon or …designated to fulfill some distant purpose, but simply someone who wanted to live her life as she sees fit.

Read more on Salon

The First Offset, went the argument, had been the use of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles to counterbalance the Soviet advantage in men and tanks in the early Cold War.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Chinese officials used their country’s rare earth dominance as a weapon in the recent trade war with the U.S.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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