semiautomatic firearm

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Definition

Noun: A firearm that automatically chambers a new round from its magazine after each shot but requires the trigger to be pulled separately for each individual shot. It fires only one round with each trigger pull.

Usage

A semiautomatic firearm is a type of self-loading gun. After firing, the energy from the shot is used to eject the spent cartridge case and load a fresh one from the magazine into the firing chamber. The weapon is then ready to fire again, but only when the trigger is pulled another time. This distinguishes it from fully automatic firearms, which continue to fire as long as the trigger is held down.

Examples
  • The police officer carried a semiautomatic firearm as her standard sidearm.
  • Many modern hunting rifles are semiautomatic firearms.
  • Compared to a revolver, a semiautomatic firearm typically has a higher ammunition capacity.
Advanced Usage
  • The term is often shortened colloquially to "semiautomatic" or "semi-auto" when the context is clear (e.g., "a semi-auto pistol").
  • In technical and legal contexts, "semiautomatic firearm" is the precise term used to define a specific class of weapons regulated by law.
Variants and Related Words
  • Semiautomatic (adjective): Describing the firearm's operation (e.g., a semiautomatic mode).
  • Semi-auto (noun, informal): A common shortened form.
  • Autoloader: A broader technical synonym for any firearm that uses its own energy to load the next round, which includes semiautomatics.
  • Self-loading firearm: A synonym for autoloader.
Synonyms
  • Autoloader
  • Self-loading firearm
Antonyms
  • Manual firearm (e.g., bolt-action, lever-action rifle)
  • Fully automatic firearm (machine gun, assault rifle in full-auto mode)
Related Phrases
  • Semiautomatic pistol: A handgun that operates on the semiautomatic principle.
  • Semiautomatic rifle: A long gun that operates on the semiautomatic principle.
  • Trigger pull: The action required to fire a single shot from a semiautomatic firearm.
Noun
  1. an autoloader that fires only one shot at each pull of the trigger