handgun

[hand-guhn] / ˈhændˌgʌn /

NOUN

firearm

Synonyms

STRONGEST

musket pistol revolver rifle shotgun weapon

STRONG

heat

NOUN

gun

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cannon hardware mortar piece pistol revolver rifle shotgun

STRONG

Uzi blaster difference equalizer flintlock forty-five howitzer magnum musket ordnance persuader rod

WEAK

Saturday-night special peashooter thirty-eight

NOUN

pistol

Synonyms

STRONGEST

firearm gun rod

STRONG

forty-five piece six-shooter

WEAK

Saturday night special thirty-eight

NOUN

Saturday night special

Synonyms

WEAK

cheap handgun firearm pistol revolver rod six-shooter

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For those who fought for the handgun ban, there is some small consolation in what happened next.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026

They also allowed Ethan to have access to a handgun that his father had purchased.

From Slate • Mar. 5, 2026

Pretti was armed at the time of the encounter with a legally owned handgun, according to state and federal officials.

From Salon • Feb. 2, 2026

He carried a concealed legally permitted 9mm handgun.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026

At home, though, there was still the matter of the handgun.

From "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Pérez