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weapon Definition

weapon (wep′ən)

noun

  1. an instrument or device of any kind used to injure or kill, as in fighting or hunting
  2. any organ or part of an organism used for attacking or defending
  3. any means of attack or defense the weapon of the law

Etymology: ME wepen < OE wæpen, akin to Ger waffe, ON vāpn, Goth wēpna: base found only in Gmc

weapon Related Forms

weap′·oned adjective weap′·on·less adjective

weapon Synonyms

weapon

n.

  1. An instrument for combat

    armament, protection, weaponry, deadly weapon, hardware, sophisticated hardware, lethal weapon, defense.

    Weapons include: club, spear, arrow, mace, knife, catapult, bullet, dart, flechette, missile, sling, slingshot, CAM, cybernetic anthropomorphic machine, bomb, atomic bomb, nuclear bomb, rocket, torpedo, stick, ax, firearm, cannon, gun, musket, rifle, blackjack, whip, sword, pistol, revolver, bayonet, bazooka, mortar, antiaircraft gun, machine gun, warhead; airplane, tank, submarine, destroyer.

  2. A device thought of figuratively as a weapon

    argument, plea, evidence, influence, alibi, intimidation, threat, blackmail, scolding, sharp tongue.

weapon Law Definition

n

An implement used or designed to be used to kill or injure a person. See also gun-control law.
concealed weapon
A weapon that is carried by someone but is not visible to the ordinary observer’s eye.
dangerous weapon
An implement or device that is capable of causing serious bodily harm or death; not to be confused with a deadly weapon. A dangerous weapon may be deadly; a deadly weapon must be dangerous.
deadly weapon
Any firearm or other device (crossbow, longbow, bomb, grenade, and so on), substance (poison), or material (dagger, cutlass), that, when used in the manner it was intended to be used, will be likely to cause death.

weapon Usage Examples

Preposition: of

destruction: The recent fiasco around weapons of mass destruction springs to mind.

Converse of object

  • possess: It is now clear that at the time of the US-led military action Iraq did not possess such weapons.
  • acquire: A variety of states and groups continue to seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them.
  • deploy: For Russia, however, NATO enlargement brings an Alliance that still deploys nuclear weapons in Europe closer to its borders.
  • wield: All soldiers look and play great, wielding recognizable weapons that make recognizable noises.
  • carry: Ships carrying nuclear weapons will be banned from British ports.

Adjective modifier

  • nuclear: Ships carrying nuclear weapons will be banned from British ports.
  • biological: In my opinion, the problem of defense against biological weapons is mostly a medical problem.
  • offensive: Yesterday, another activist was arrested for possessing an offensive weapon, taking the total number of arrests to 39.
  • tactical: Under these circumstances, there would be no incentive for either side to confine itself to the use of tactical nuclear weapons.
  • chemical: Saddam Hussein used the chemical weapons on his own people.
  • lethal: These aircraft are equipped with a considerable array of accurate and lethal weapons.

Modifies a noun

  • inspector: Why was Hans Blix, the UN's chief weapons inspector, not given more time?
  • proliferation: The Russian president recognizes that terrorism and weapons proliferation, rather than NATO, are the real threats to Russia's security.
  • inspection: Hans Blix delivered his report to the UN regarding the weapons inspection of Iraq On Friday 15th February.
  • program: Such capabilities also can support fissile material production for Tehran's overall nuclear weapons program.

Noun used with modifier

  • chemical: The devastating effects of chemical weapons are well known in the area.
  • siege: Among his previous works are books on the Japanese invasion of Korea and studies of siege weapons of the Far East.
  • battlefield: Since all future battlefield weapons will be navigated by satellite, Europe will be helping China re-arm using Galileo technology.
  • murder: MULDER: So this is definitely the murder weapon?

Browse dictionary entries near weapon

  1. ‹ weanling
  2. ‹ wean
  3. ‹ wealthy
  4. ‹ wealthily
  5. ‹ wealth effect
  6. ‹ wealth
  7. ‹ weald
  8. ‹ weal
  9. ‹ weakon
  10. ‹ weakness
  1. weaponeer ›
  2. weaponry ›
  3. weapons-grade ›
  4. wear ›
  5. wear and tear ›
  6. wear down ›
  7. wear off ›
  8. wear out ›
  9. wear the pants or trousers ›
  10. wearable ›