automatic pistol: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical / Legal / Military
Quick answer
What does “automatic pistol” mean?
A handgun that automatically extracts and ejects the spent cartridge case, chambers a new round from its magazine, and is ready to fire again with each pull of the trigger.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A handgun that automatically extracts and ejects the spent cartridge case, chambers a new round from its magazine, and is ready to fire again with each pull of the trigger.
A repeating, magazine-fed pistol whose semi-automatic operation cycles via the energy of a fired round. In common (often technically incorrect) usage, any modern magazine-fed handgun, as distinct from a revolver.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Terminology is largely identical, but UK usage is primarily in legal, military, and specialist contexts due to strict firearm laws. US usage is more common in general discourse.
Connotations
In UK, strong association with crime and military/police. In US, broader connotations including self-defence, sport shooting, and law enforcement.
Frequency
Significantly more frequent in American English in media, civilian discourse, and commercial contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “automatic pistol” in a Sentence
[Subject] + drew/fired/holstered + an automatic pistolan automatic pistol + chambered in + [caliber]The + automatic pistol + [verb: jammed, ejected, cycled]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “automatic pistol” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The suspect was alleged to have been automatic-pistol-whipped.
- The troops were trained to automatic-pistol shoot from cover.
American English
- He was charged with automatic-pistol possession.
- The manual covers how to properly automatic-pistol clean.
adjective
British English
- He faced automatic-pistol charges.
- The automatic-pistol mechanism was examined.
American English
- She took an automatic-pistol course.
- The automatic-pistol debate is heated.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Used in manufacturing, import/export, or security industry reports.
Academic
Used in historical, criminological, military, or engineering texts.
Everyday
Low frequency. Primarily in news reports about crime, military actions, or in discussions among firearm enthusiasts.
Technical
Core term in ballistics, firearms manuals, law enforcement training, and military specifications.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “automatic pistol”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “automatic pistol”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “automatic pistol”
- Using 'automatic' to mean 'fully automatic' (machine pistol) when describing common semi-automatics. Confusing it with 'revolver'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. In common usage, 'automatic pistol' typically means a semi-automatic pistol. A 'machine pistol' is a fully automatic firearm, capable of continuous fire with one trigger pull.
Technically, they are often synonyms. 'Semi-automatic' is more precise, specifying one shot per trigger pull. 'Automatic' can be ambiguous, sometimes referring to the cycling action (semi-auto) and sometimes to the firing mode (full-auto).
It refers to the automatic cycling of the action—extracting the spent case, cocking the hammer/striker, and loading a fresh round—using energy from the fired cartridge, without manual operation by the user.
In modern contexts, especially in the US, 'pistol' often defaults to meaning a semi-automatic handgun. However, it is a broader term that can also include revolvers and other handguns, so context is key.
A handgun that automatically extracts and ejects the spent cartridge case, chambers a new round from its magazine, and is ready to fire again with each pull of the trigger.
Automatic pistol is usually technical / legal / military in register.
Automatic pistol: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɔːtəˈmatɪk ˈpɪstl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɔːt̬əˈmæt̬ɪk ˈpɪstl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Locked and loaded (referring to a ready automatic pistol)”
- “Going full auto (though technically different)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think AUTO as in 'automobile' which moves by itself. An AUTOMATIC PISTOL automatically prepares the next shot for you.
Conceptual Metaphor
A TOOL OF AUTOMATED FORCE (contrasted with the manual tool of a revolver).
Practice
Quiz
What is the key mechanical feature that distinguishes an automatic pistol from a revolver?