What does airgun mean?
An airgun is a gun that propels a projectile — usually a metal pellet or spherical shot — by means of compressed air or another pressurized gas such as carbon dioxide, rather than by burning an explosive propellant. Airguns come in many forms, including rifles and pistols, and are powered by mechanisms ranging from spring-piston systems to pre-charged pneumatic reservoirs. They are widely used for target shooting and competitive sport (Olympic events include ten-metre air rifle and air pistol), for controlling small garden and agricultural pests, and for casual recreational shooting. Because they are generally quieter and less powerful than conventional firearms, airguns are often treated differently under the law, though regulations vary considerably between countries and regions. The word combines "air" with "gun" and is standardly written as a single term. For anyone reading about shooting sports, wildlife management, or weapons law, understanding what an airgun is — and how it differs from a firearm — is genuinely useful.
nounA gun that fires projectiles using compressed air or carbon dioxide rather than an explosive charge, typically a rifle or pistol used for target shooting, pest control, or recreation.
- A gun that discharges a projectile by means of compressed air or gas, used in sport shooting, hunting small pests, and recreational target practice.
"He spent the afternoon plinking tin cans with his airgun behind the barn."
"The club's members gathered at the indoor range to compete in the ten-metre airgun event."
"Local regulations require that airguns be stored securely and never discharged within city limits."
The plural follows regular noun formation; it appears most often in contexts involving collections, sales, or legal restrictions.
"The shop stocks a wide selection of airguns for target shooters of every level."
Airguns predate firearms' dominance: compressed-air weapons were being experimented with as far back as the 16th century, and Lewis and Clark carried a celebrated repeating air rifle on their expedition across America.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of airgun
Airgun is a straightforward English compound of "air" (from Latin aer via Old French) and "gun," joined during the modern era when compressed-air weapons became commercially widespread, chiefly in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The concept itself is much older: pneumatic guns were experimented with in Europe from at least the sixteenth century, and the Girandoni air rifle of the late eighteenth century was famously carried on the Lewis and Clark expedition. The word thus reflects both an ancient engineering idea and a distinctly modern retail category.
How airgun is actually used
Airgun is typically written as one word, though the two-word form "air gun" also appears. It is a neutral technical term, but because airguns are subject to varying legal restrictions — from unregulated toys in some jurisdictions to licensed firearms in others — usage often carries regulatory or safety connotations. In British English, airgun is common in everyday and legal contexts; American English more often uses terms like BB gun or pellet gun informally.
Easily confused with airgun
An airline is a company that operates aircraft for passenger or cargo transport, while an airgun is a weapon that fires pellets using compressed air.