What does antigun mean?
"Antigun" is an adjective describing opposition to the ownership, sale, or use of firearms, particularly in a political context. It is applied to people, organizations, legislation, and public attitudes — an "antigun activist" campaigns for tighter weapon laws, while "antigun legislation" refers to statutes restricting firearms. The term is built from the Greek-derived prefix "anti-," meaning "against," attached to "gun," and it functions almost exclusively as a modifier placed before another noun rather than standing alone. Its opposite is "pro-gun." Because gun regulation is a deeply polarizing issue — especially in the United States, where the word appears most frequently in news reporting and political debate — "antigun" carries a clear ideological charge: labeling someone or something antigun places it on the restrictive side of the firearms controversy. Writers may render it hyphenated ("anti-gun") or solid ("antigun"), with both spellings widely accepted.
adjectiveOpposed to the ownership or use of guns, especially as a matter of political principle. Typically used to describe people, groups, legislation, or attitudes that favor restricting firearms.
- Opposed to the private ownership, sale, or use of firearms; supporting gun control or restrictions on weapons.
"The senator's antigun stance cost her support in rural districts."
"Her antigun views made her a frequent target of talk radio."
"The city passed a series of antigun measures after the election."
The 'anti-' in 'antigun' comes from the ancient Greek word for 'against' — the same prefix that gives us antibiotic and Antarctic, literally 'opposite of the Arctic.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of antigun
The word "antigun" combines the prefix "anti-," borrowed from Greek "anti" meaning "against" or "opposite," with "gun," an English word whose own origins are debated but which has been in use since the late Middle Ages, likely influenced by Scandinavian sources. As a compound, "antigun" arose in modern English alongside other "anti-" coinages describing political stances, becoming common in twentieth-century American discourse on firearm regulation. It shares its prefix with a wide family of terms such as "antibiotic," "antifreeze," and "antiaircraft," all expressing opposition or counteraction.
How antigun is actually used
Almost always used attributively (before a noun), as in 'antigun rally' or 'antigun politician.' The word carries an implicitly political connotation and is most often encountered in American journalism and political commentary, where debates over firearm regulation are especially prominent. Some writers style it with a hyphen ('anti-gun'); both forms are accepted.
Easily confused with antigun
An antigen is a substance that triggers an immune response in biology, whereas antigun describes opposition to firearms.