firearm
gb/fˈaɪɚˌɑɹm/ us/fˈaɪɚˌɑɹm/
B1
English
~ 4700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
A gun carried and fired by hand
A gun that you can carry and fire with your hands.
Usage pattern:
[someone] carries/uses [a firearm]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'firearm' with 'fire alarm' because of similar pronunciation; also sometimes mistakenly used for non-gun weapons like bows.
Synonyms
gun (More general and commonly used; can refer to all types of guns, including large mounted ones, but often used for handheld ones.)
|
weapon (Broader term that includes firearms as well as knives, explosives, etc.)
Antonyms
melee weapon (A weapon used in close combat without firing projectiles, e.g., sword or club.)
Collocations
firearm license
|illegal firearm
|carry a firearm
|firearm possession
|firearm safety
Themes
weapons
|law
|safety
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The police officer drew his firearm during the arrest.
- Owning a firearm without a permit is illegal in many countries.
- She took a firearm safety course before buying a pistol.
- The suspect was found carrying an unregistered firearm.
- Firearm laws vary greatly from state to state.
Learner examples
- The man has a firearm.
- She bought a small firearm.
- He carries a firearm for work.
- The police took the firearm.
- I saw a firearm on the table.
Grammar
Dictionary form
firearm
IPA
GB/fˈaɪɚˌɑɹm/
US/fˈaɪɚˌɑɹm/
Syllables & stress
fire - arm (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (fire)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: firearm
- Plural: firearms
Word family
Forms
firearms
noun
Related words
Advanced or less common
Expressions
carry a firearm
1/kˈɛɹi ə fˈaɪɚˌɑɹm/
fixed phrase
Have a gun with you
To have a gun on your body or with you.
Examples
- Only authorized guards may carry a firearm inside the building.
- She has permission to carry a firearm for her job.
firearm license
1/fˈaɪɚˌɑɹm lˈaɪsəns/
fixed phrase
Permit to own or use a gun
An official paper that says you can have or use a gun.
Examples
- You need a firearm license to buy that rifle.
- Her firearm license will expire next month.
firearm possession
1/fˈaɪɚˌɑɹm pəzˈɛʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
Ownership or control of a gun
The act of having a gun in your control or ownership.
Examples
- He faces charges for unlawful firearm possession.
- Firearm possession laws are strict in this region.
firearm safety
1/fˈaɪɚˌɑɹm sˈeɪfti/
fixed phrase
Safe use and storage of firearms
How to use and store guns in a safe way.
Examples
- The training program focuses on firearm safety.
- Firearm safety is an important topic for new hunters.
illegal firearm
1/ɪlˈiɡəl fˈaɪɚˌɑɹm/
fixed phrase
A gun possessed against the law
A gun that someone has or uses without following the law.
Examples
- He was arrested for carrying an illegal firearm.
- The police seized several illegal firearms during the raid.