gunrunning: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Journalistic / Political / Legal
Quick answer
What does “gunrunning” mean?
The illegal business of smuggling guns and other weapons into a country, especially for sale to rebels, terrorists, or criminals.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The illegal business of smuggling guns and other weapons into a country, especially for sale to rebels, terrorists, or criminals.
Any illicit, large-scale transport and trade of weaponry across borders, often associated with fueling conflicts, organized crime, or embargo violations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or form. Occasionally hyphenated as 'gun-running' in both varieties, but solid form is standard.
Connotations
Identical strong negative connotations of criminality, violence, and destabilization. Often evokes images of conflict zones and paramilitary groups.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both varieties; slightly more common in US media due to coverage of border issues and global conflicts.
Grammar
How to Use “gunrunning” in a Sentence
[Noun] was involved in gunrunning.The government cracked down on [Noun].They were convicted for [Noun].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gunrunning” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The gang was suspected of running guns into the region.
- He was imprisoned for running guns across the Channel.
American English
- The cartel has been running guns across the southern border for years.
- They were indicted for running guns to the militia.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form; 'gunrunning' is not used as an adverb.]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form; 'gunrunning' is not used as an adverb.]
adjective
British English
- The gunrunning syndicate was based in Eastern Europe.
- Police uncovered a major gunrunning operation.
American English
- The gunrunning ring used encrypted apps to communicate.
- He faces gunrunning charges in federal court.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in legitimate business contexts; only in discussions of illicit trade.
Academic
Used in political science, criminology, and international relations papers on conflict, organized crime, and embargo violations.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; appears in news discussions about crime or foreign conflicts.
Technical
Specific legal term in international law and law enforcement for a category of crime.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gunrunning”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gunrunning”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gunrunning”
- Confusing with 'gunfight' or 'gunfire'. Using it to refer to legal arms sales. Spelling as two separate words: 'gun running'.
- Using it as a verb (the verb is 'to run guns').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is standardly written as one solid word (gunrunning), though the hyphenated form 'gun-running' is also occasionally seen.
No. The term exclusively refers to illegal, clandestine smuggling and trade of weapons.
The related verb phrase is 'to run guns'. For example: 'They were arrested for running guns.'
Primarily, yes, it refers to firearms. However, it is often used more broadly to include ammunition and related military equipment in the context of smuggling.
The illegal business of smuggling guns and other weapons into a country, especially for sale to rebels, terrorists, or criminals.
Gunrunning is usually journalistic / political / legal in register.
Gunrunning: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡʌnrʌnɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡʌnrʌnɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not a common idiom source; often part of descriptive phrases like 'a gunrunning racket' or 'gunrunning pipeline']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a truck 'running' guns across a border under cover of night. 'Gun' + 'running' = the act of making guns 'run' illegally across borders.
Conceptual Metaphor
ILLEGAL TRADE IS COVERT MOVEMENT (running, trafficking, smuggling). CONFLICT FUEL IS A COMMODITY (guns as traded goods).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'gunrunning'?