weapon

[ wep-uhn ]
See synonyms for weapon on Thesaurus.com
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.

  1. 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.

Origin of weapon

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English wepen, Old English wǣpen; cognate with German Waffe, Old Norse vāpn, Gothic wēpna (plural)

Other words from weapon

  • weaponed, adjective
  • weap·on·less, adjective
  • outweaponed, adjective
  • su·per·weap·on, noun
  • un·weap·oned, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use weapon in a sentence

  • They threw down their weapons with sullen obedience and the first great step towards the re-conquest of India was taken.

    The Red Year | Louis Tracy
  • Pearson flung his knife and fork at it, having forgotten to drop those light weapons when he leaped up.

    Hunting the Lions | R.M. Ballantyne
  • Between each group of figures the face of the rock was scored with mysterious signs and rudely limned weapons of war and chase.

    Raw Gold | Bertrand W. Sinclair
  • The weapons, the most unusual weapons, we are reluctantly compelled to accept under protest.

  • Besides this the old general meant it, when he had stated his design to provide a specially heavy pair of weapons.

British Dictionary definitions for weapon

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

  1. any part of an animal that is used to defend itself, to attack prey, etc, such as claws, teeth, horns, or a sting

  2. a slang word for penis

Origin of weapon

1
Old English wǣpen; related to Old Norse vápn, Old Frisian wēpen, Old High German wāffan

Derived forms of weapon

  • weaponed, adjective
  • weaponless, adjective

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