Can 'gunpoint' be used as a verb?

No, 'gunpoint' is exclusively a noun in modern English.

Is 'at gunpoint' hyphenated?

No, it is not. 'Gunpoint' is a single, closed compound noun.

What is the difference between 'at gunpoint' and 'under gunpoint'?

'At gunpoint' is the only correct and idiomatic prepositional phrase. 'Under gunpoint' is incorrect.

Can you use 'gunpoint' for threats with other weapons?

No, it is specific to firearms. For knives, the phrase is 'at knifepoint'.

Is “gunpoint” formal?

Gunpoint is usually formal, journalistic, legal in register.

How do you pronounce “gunpoint”?

Gunpoint: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡʌn.pɔɪnt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡʌn.pɔɪnt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

gunpoint: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

UK/ˈɡʌn.pɔɪnt/US/ˈɡʌn.pɔɪnt/

Formal, journalistic, legal

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “gunpoint” mean?

The muzzle or front end of a gun, considered as a means of threat or coercion.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

The muzzle or front end of a gun, considered as a means of threat or coercion.

A situation in which someone is threatened or forced to do something while a gun is pointed at them.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant differences in meaning or usage; the phrase is equally understood and used in both varieties.

Connotations

Carries strong connotations of violent crime, threat, and lack of consent. It is a serious, dramatic term.

Frequency

Slightly more frequent in American English media due to higher rates of reported gun-related crime, but the lexical item itself is common in both.

Grammar

How to Use “gunpoint” in a Sentence

[Subject] + [verb] + [object] + at gunpointAt gunpoint, [clause]

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

at gunpointheld at gunpointforced at gunpointrobbery at gunpoint

medium

threatened at gunpointtaken at gunpointmade to do something at gunpoint

weak

gunpoint demandgunpoint situationgunpoint order

Examples

Examples of “gunpoint” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

A gunpoint robbery

American English

A gunpoint robbery

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Rare, except in security reports: 'The cashier was robbed at gunpoint.'

Academic

Used in criminology, law, and sociology papers discussing armed crime.

Everyday

Used in news reports and serious conversations about crime. Not casual.

Technical

Used in police reports and legal documents to specify the method of coercion.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “gunpoint”

Strong

under duress (of a firearm)by force of arms

Neutral

under threat of a gunwith a gun to one's head

Weak

under threatcoerced

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “gunpoint”

voluntarilywillinglyby consent

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “gunpoint”

Using it as a standalone noun without 'at' (e.g., 'He did it by gunpoint' is incorrect; must be 'at gunpoint').
Confusing it with 'point-blank' (which refers to shooting from very close range).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No, 'gunpoint' is exclusively a noun in modern English.
: No, it is not. 'Gunpoint' is a single, closed compound noun.
: 'At gunpoint' is the only correct and idiomatic prepositional phrase. 'Under gunpoint' is incorrect.
: No, it is specific to firearms. For knives, the phrase is 'at knifepoint'.
: The muzzle or front end of a gun, considered as a means of threat or coercion.
: Gunpoint is usually formal, journalistic, legal in register.
: Gunpoint: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡʌn.pɔɪnt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡʌn.pɔɪnt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“at gunpoint”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine the POINT of a GUN being aimed at you. The word itself points to the exact spot (the point) of the threat.

Conceptual Metaphor

COERCION IS A PHYSICAL POINT (The abstract threat is conceptualised as a specific, tangible location—the end of the gun).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The security guard was forced to open the vault .

Multiple Choice

What is the primary grammatical function of 'gunpoint'?