What does gun mean?
Gun is chiefly a noun for a weapon that fires bullets or other projectiles. It can refer to handguns, rifles, shotguns, and larger artillery pieces, although the word is also used broadly when the exact type of weapon is not important. The expression “gun control” shows how commonly the word appears in discussions of law, safety, and public policy, while “under the gun” uses it figuratively to mean under intense pressure. As a verb, “gun” has several meanings beyond simply firing a weapon: it can describe operating an engine or accelerator forcefully, killing someone by shooting, or pursuing something aggressively. Gun is especially associated with warfare, hunting, crime, and firearms regulation. Its connotations therefore vary according to context, ranging from neutral technical language in history or sports to strongly emotional language in accounts of violence and public safety debates.
A weapon that fires bullets or other projectiles, especially a firearm or cannon.
"The gun was unloaded when police recovered it."
The word can also refer informally to a powerful or highly skilled person, as in “a big gun in the industry.”
To shoot with a gun; to operate an engine or accelerator forcefully; to kill or execute someone by shooting; or to pursue something aggressively.
"The racer gunned the engine and overtook the leading car."
The meanings involving an engine and aggressive pursuit are informal, while the sense of killing by shooting is forceful and often solemn or violent in context.
The standard plural is “guns.”
"The two guns were secured in separate evidence bags."
The word “gun” originally referred to a heavy battle-axe, so its history is broader than the modern firearm meaning might suggest.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gun come from?
The English word entered Middle English through Old French, where related forms referred to a battle-axe or another heavy weapon. Its older senses did not necessarily denote a firearm. The modern sense for a gun that shoots projectiles became established as firearms became increasingly important in warfare, and the word subsequently broadened to include many kinds of artillery and other projectile weapons.
Related word forms
How gun is actually used
In contemporary English, “gun” is a general term for a firearm, while more specific terms such as “pistol,” “rifle,” and “shotgun” identify particular types. The noun can be emotionally charged in discussions of crime, war, and public safety. The verb “gun the engine” is informal but standard, while “gun someone” or “gun down someone” describes deliberately shooting a person.