minigun: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical / Military / Gaming
Quick answer
What does “minigun” mean?
A multi-barrel machine gun with a high rate of fire, typically mounted on vehicles or aircraft.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A multi-barrel machine gun with a high rate of fire, typically mounted on vehicles or aircraft.
Often refers to electrically or hydraulically powered Gatling-style rotary cannons used for suppressive fire or against light vehicles. In gaming/media, it’s a heavy weapon archetype with sustained firepower.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning. Both varieties use the term primarily in military and entertainment contexts.
Connotations
Associated with American military hardware (e.g., M134 Minigun). In the UK, often encountered in media or discussions of US equipment.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to the US military's prominent use and media portrayal.
Grammar
How to Use “minigun” in a Sentence
The soldier operated the minigun.The helicopter was armed with a minigun.He fired the minigun at the target.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “minigun” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- minigun-equipped helicopter
American English
- minigun-style turret
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
In military history or engineering papers discussing rapid-fire weapon systems.
Everyday
Rare, except among enthusiasts or in discussions of action films/games.
Technical
Specifications for rate of fire (e.g., 3,000 rounds per minute), mounting systems, power source (electric/hydraulic), and ammunition feed.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “minigun”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “minigun”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “minigun”
- Confusing 'minigun' with 'machine gun' (not all machine guns are rotary).
- Misspelling as 'mini-gun' (though hyphenated form is sometimes seen).
- Assuming it is a small weapon due to 'mini-' prefix.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
All miniguns are machine guns, but not all machine guns are miniguns. A minigun is specifically a multi-barrel, rotary machine gun.
Standard military miniguns are very heavy and require mounting on a vehicle, aircraft, or tripod due to their weight, ammunition feed, and power source. Man-portable versions are extremely rare and impractical.
The name originates from the company that developed it, General Electric's 'Minigun' project, named in relation to their larger 20mm 'Vulcan' cannon. The 'mini' refers to its smaller caliber, not its size.
Its rotating barrel system allows for a much higher rate of fire without overheating as quickly, as each barrel has time to cool between shots in the rotation cycle.
A multi-barrel machine gun with a high rate of fire, typically mounted on vehicles or aircraft.
Minigun is usually technical / military / gaming in register.
Minigun: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɪnɪˌɡʌn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɪniˌɡʌn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MINI + GUN – but ironically, it’s not mini; it’s a compact term for a very large, multi-barrel gun.
Conceptual Metaphor
A MINIGUN IS A TOOL OF OVERWHELMING FORCE (e.g., 'His criticism was a verbal minigun').
Practice
Quiz
What is a defining characteristic of a minigun?