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Showing results for handgun. Search instead for handguns.
Synonyms

handgun

American  
[hand-guhn] / ˈhændˌgʌn /

noun

  1. any firearm that can be held and fired with one hand; a revolver or a pistol.


handgun British  
/ ˈhændˌɡʌn /

noun

  1. a firearm that can be held, carried, and fired with one hand, such as a pistol

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of handgun

First recorded in 1400–50, handgun is from the late Middle English word handgone. See hand, gun 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

South Korea's military has halted all shooting drills involving small firearms - including weapons like rifles or handguns - after a child was struck by a suspected stray bullet at a playground in Daegu city.

From BBC

In the weeks after the tragedy, North helped to start a successful campaign for a complete ban on private handgun ownership.

From BBC

Some of Forsyth's colleagues were sceptical, but "from the moment I left that gym I was absolutely determined we were going to have to have legislation to ban handguns," he says.

From BBC

It backs a system introduced in New Zealand in 2012 where Glock handguns and semi-automatic rifles are stored in locked cabinets in vehicles, and officers can seek permission to access them in emergencies.

From BBC

According to the Reuters news agency, two handguns and a rifle were found at the scene near the Petrohan mountain pass, about an hour's distance from the capital Sofia.

From BBC