semiautomatic

adjective

semi·​au·​to·​mat·​ic ˌse-mē-ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-tik How to pronounce semiautomatic (audio)
ˌse-ˌmī-, 
-mi-
Synonyms of semiautomaticnext
: not fully automatic: such as
a
: operated partly automatically and partly by hand
b
of a firearm : able to fire repeatedly through an automatic reloading process but requiring release and another pressure of the trigger for each successive shot
a semiautomatic rifle
semiautomatic noun
semiautomatically
ˌse-mē-ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce semiautomatic (audio)
ˌse-ˌmī-, 
-mi-
adverb

Examples of semiautomatic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Investigators said a gunman in a gold or brown pickup truck pulled alongside 65-year-old Singh and his friend, 78-year-old Atwal, on East Stockton Boulevard near Geneva Point Drive and opened fire with a semiautomatic handgun. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026 The bans at the center of the consolidated case outlaw the purchase of AR-15 and similar semiautomatic rifles, with the justices set to rule on whether those bans violate the Second or 14th amendments. — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 23 Oct. 2026 Rinse tubs alongside the semiautomatic machines tripled space requirements, making for a much larger overall footprint than today’s models. — Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 19 Oct. 2026 About a dozen states have banned semiautomatic rifles like AR-15s, which are often called assault weapons. — ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for semiautomatic

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of semiautomatic was in 1853

Rhymes for semiautomatic

See All Rhymes for semiautomatic

Browse Nearby Words

semiautomated
semiautomatic
semiautonomous
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Semiautomatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semiautomatic. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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