Definition

Noun: A type of handgun that uses the energy from a fired cartridge to automatically cycle its action. This process ejects the spent casing, loads a new cartridge from a magazine, and prepares the pistol to fire again with each pull of the trigger. It will continue to fire in this semi-automatic manner until the ammunition in the magazine is exhausted or the shooter releases the trigger.

Usage

The term "automatic pistol" is used to describe a specific class of self-loading firearms. It is important for precise technical and legal descriptions. - Technical/Descriptive Use: To specify the firearm's operating mechanism. - Legal/Regulatory Use: In laws and regulations classifying firearms. - General Descriptive Use: To distinguish from other types of pistols, like revolvers.

Examples

• The police officer drew her automatic pistol from its holster.
• His collection includes a rare historical automatic pistol from the early 20th century.
• Most modern military sidearms are automatic pistols.

Advanced Usage

• Technical Distinction: In strict technical terminology, "automatic pistol" can be ambiguous. It most commonly refers to a (one shot per trigger pull). Fully automatic pistols (which fire continuously while the trigger is held) are rare and often classified differently (e.g., as machine pistols).
• Contextual Clarification: The meaning is often clarified by context. For example, "semi-automatic pistol" is frequently used to avoid the ambiguity with fully automatic weapons.

Variants and Related Words

• Semi-automatic pistol: A more precise term for the most common type of "automatic pistol," firing one round per trigger pull.
• Machine pistol: A pistol capable of fully automatic fire (continuous fire while the trigger is held).
• Pistol: The general category of hand-held firearms, which includes automatic pistols, revolvers, and single-shot pistols.
• Handgun: A synonym for pistol.

Synonyms

• Self-loading pistol
• Semi-automatic (when used as a noun in context, e.g., "He carried a semi-automatic.")

Notes on Meaning

• Primary Meaning: A pistol that automatically reloads for the next shot but typically requires a separate trigger pull for each shot (semi-automatic).
• Common Misconception: It is often confused with a "machine pistol" or "submachine gun," which are capable of fully automatic fire. The "automatic" in "automatic pistol" primarily refers to the reloading mechanism, not the firing mode.

Noun

1. a pistol that will keep firing until the ammunition is gone or the trigger is released