Definition

Noun: 1. The smuggling of guns and ammunition into a country secretly and illegally: The act of secretly and unlawfully transporting firearms and munitions across borders, typically to supply insurgent groups, criminal organizations, or other unauthorized entities.

Usage

• gunrunning is an uncountable noun. It refers to the illegal activity or trade as a whole, not to a single instance (which might be called a "gunrunning operation").
• It is commonly used in contexts discussing international crime, arms trafficking, terrorism, and violations of embargoes.

Examples

• The government increased coastal patrols to combat gunrunning.
• He was arrested and charged with gunrunning across the border.
• The documentary exposed a sophisticated gunrunning network operating in the region.

Advanced Usage

• "to be involved in gunrunning": to participate in the illegal trade of weapons.
  • The suspect is believed to have been involved in gunrunning for years.
• "gunrunning ring/network": an organized group engaged in smuggling guns.
  • Authorities dismantled a major international gunrunning ring.

Variants and Related Words

• Gunrunner (noun): A person who smuggles guns.
  • The notorious gunrunner was finally captured.
• Arms trafficking (noun phrase): A broader, often more formal term for the illegal trade in weapons and ammunition, which includes gunrunning.

Synonyms

• Arms smuggling
• Weapons trafficking
• Illicit arms trade

Related Phrases

• To run guns (verb phrase): To engage in the act of gunrunning.
  • The militia was accused of running guns to the conflict zone.

Noun

1. the smuggling of guns and ammunition into a country secretly and illegally