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.

---

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

• 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

“We need all the weapons we can get against the Shadow Queen.”

From Literature

In past eras, the perfect weapon was one that would inflict maximum damage on an enemy.

From The Wall Street Journal

Still, it is the only country without a nuclear weapon to produce 60% highly enriched uranium, which is close to weapons grade.

From The Wall Street Journal

During quarterly earnings calls late last month, executives from RTX, General Dynamics and other contractors boasted about billions of dollars in capital investments their companies have made to expand weapons manufacturing and defended dividend payouts.

From The Wall Street Journal

“They don’t want their money in weapons, so they won’t invest at all. But there are funds that exist that don’t include that,” Wolny said.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

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