weapon

[ wep-uhn ]

noun

1. any instrument or device for use in attack or defense in combat, fighting, or war, as a sword, rifle, or cannon.
2. anything used against an opponent, adversary, or victim:

   the deadly weapon of satire.

3. Zoology. any part or organ serving for attack or defense, as claws, horns, teeth, or stings.

verb (used with object)

1. to supply or equip with a weapon or weapons:

   to weapon aircraft with heat-seeking missiles.

weapon

/ ˈwɛpən /

noun

1. an object or instrument used in fighting
2. anything that serves to outwit or get the better of an opponent

   his power of speech was his best weapon

3. any part of an animal that is used to defend itself, to attack prey, etc, such as claws, teeth, horns, or a sting
4. See penis
   a slang word for penis

Derived Forms

• ˈweaponed, adjective
• ˈweaponless, adjective

Other Words From

• weaponed adjective
• weapon·less adjective
• outweaponed adjective
• super·weapon noun
• un·weaponed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of weapon¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English wepen, Old English wǣpen; cognate with German Waffe, Old Norse vāpn, Gothic wēpna (plural)

Word History and Origins

Origin of weapon¹

Old English wǣpen; related to Old Norse vápn, Old Frisian wēpen, Old High German wāffan

Example Sentences

Eighteen years ago, the US invaded Iraq under the false pretense that Saddam Ḥussein possessed nuclear weapons.

From Quartz

The settlement was announced as Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and the FBI continue criminal investigations of the three officers who fired their weapons into Taylor’s apartment.

From Vox

Now, more evidence suggests that steroids are an effective weapon against the coronavirus.

From Science News

The Celtics have myriad weapons at their disposal, even with Hayward out for the next few weeks.

From FiveThirtyEight

Musk has previously said the technology could be more dangerous than nuclear weapons, and warned that AI could become too powerful, too quickly, preventing humans from keeping it in check.

From Vox

But even when the jet will be able to shoot its gun, the F-35 barely carries enough ammunition to make the weapon useful.

From The Daily Beast

He was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and faced 15 years prison time.

From The Daily Beast

The $50,000 reward means a weapon was brandished to either the customers or the employees.

From The Daily Beast

Less than eight percent of sentenced federal women prisoners are there for violent crimes or weapon offenses.

From The Daily Beast

When Robert Haile pulled his own weapon, Brooks continued his stick-up.

From The Daily Beast

The Frenchman's blade scintillated in the setting sun around Haggard's more stiffly held weapon.

From Project Gutenberg

Haggard flung his weapon to the ground, and all four men crowded round the corpse.

From Project Gutenberg

But he found the weapon unwieldy, and he returned to his hotel a sadder man than he left it.

From Project Gutenberg

They divested themselves of their coats and vests, and, bare-headed, each advanced to receive his weapon.

From Project Gutenberg

He had perhaps placed in her hand the weapon that should hasten his own defeat, stretch him bleeding on the sand.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ammunition
• bomb
• cannon
• firearm
• gun
• knife
• machete
• machine gun
• missile
• nerve gas
• pistol
• revolver
• rifle
• shotgun
• sword
• tear gas