What does weaponless mean?
Weaponless is an adjective meaning that someone or something has no weapon. It is most commonly used to describe a person or group who is not armed, as in “weaponless guards,” but it can also refer to places, vehicles, organizations, or agreements in which weapons are absent. The word is more formal and somewhat more literary than the everyday expression unarmed, while still carrying the implication that weapons would normally be expected in the situation. Weaponless can describe both voluntary nonviolence and a situation in which weapons have been removed, surrendered, or otherwise unavailable. The term is also used in discussions of security, military restraint, disarmament, and nonproliferation. Its usefulness lies in making the absence of weapons explicit without adding the stronger suggestion of complete defenselessness that the word defenseless can convey.
adjectiveHaving no weapon or weapons; unarmed. It can describe a person, group, place, or situation in which weapons are absent.
- Having no weapon or weapons; unarmed.
"The peacekeepers remained weaponless while negotiating with the villagers."
"The museum displayed a weaponless ceremonial guard beside the entrance."
"After the guards were disarmed, they stood before the crowd in a weaponless formation."
The word turns the idea of a weapon into an absence: a person can be weaponless not only by choice, but because weapons have been taken away or are unavailable.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of weaponless
Weaponless is an English compound formed from weapon and the suffix -less, meaning “without” or “lacking.” Weapon derives from Old English wǣpen, while -less comes from Old English lēas in the sense “without.” The compound follows a productive English pattern also seen in related forms such as weaponry and weaponize.
Related word forms
How weaponless is actually used
Weaponless is a formal or literary adjective. It is less common than unarmed in everyday speech and can describe people, groups, locations, or arrangements, such as a weaponless patrol or a weaponless security system.
Easily confused with weaponless
Weaponless means without a weapon, whereas weaponed means equipped with a weapon.