riot gun: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical / Official / Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “riot gun” mean?
A firearm, typically a shotgun, designed or used for crowd control and dispersing riots by firing non-lethal or less-lethal projectiles.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A firearm, typically a shotgun, designed or used for crowd control and dispersing riots by firing non-lethal or less-lethal projectiles.
Any firearm (including specialised rifles and launchers) employed by law enforcement or military forces to control violent crowds, often by firing tear gas canisters, rubber bullets, bean bags, or other projectiles intended to subdue rather than kill.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used in both varieties, but British English may more frequently specify 'riot shotgun' or use the broader term 'less-lethal launcher'. American English commonly uses 'riot gun' in police/military contexts.
Connotations
Connotations are similar: state power, control, and potential for excessive force. In both contexts, it can be a neutral technical term or carry negative connotations depending on the speaker's view of the authorities.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse, but higher in specific contexts like news reports on civil unrest, police training manuals, or historical accounts.
Grammar
How to Use “riot gun” in a Sentence
The [police/officers] [deployed/fired/used] a riot gun.They were equipped with riot guns.A riot gun was [used/employed] to disperse the crowd.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “riot gun” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The police may riot-gun a crowd in extreme circumstances. (Very rare, non-standard).
American English
- The unit was trained to riot-gun effectively. (Very rare, non-standard).
adverb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- The riot-gun deployment was controversial. (Compound adjective use).
American English
- He carried riot-gun ammunition. (Compound adjective use).
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in political science, history, or criminology papers discussing police tactics and civil unrest.
Everyday
Rare, except when discussing news events involving police and protests.
Technical
Standard term in law enforcement, military procurement, and equipment manuals for specific types of shotguns or launchers.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “riot gun”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “riot gun”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “riot gun”
- Using 'riot gun' to refer to any gun used in a riot (e.g., by rioters). It primarily refers to weapons used *against* rioters.
- Confusing it with a 'machine gun' or 'assault rifle'. Riot guns are typically shotguns or single-projectile launchers.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. While many riot guns are modified shotguns, they are specifically configured for law enforcement use—often with shorter barrels, specialised sights, and used with less-lethal ammunition like bean bags or rubber slugs, rather than buckshot or birdshot.
In some jurisdictions, civilians can own a shotgun that is technically similar to a police riot gun, but they are typically restricted from possessing the specific less-lethal ammunition (like tear gas grenades) that define its 'riot control' purpose.
The term 'gun' refers to the launching mechanism, not the lethality of its projectile. It is a firearm that uses an explosive propellant. The 'riot' modifier specifies its intended use-case, not the projectile type.
It is a standard technical term within law enforcement and journalism. However, like many terms related to state force, its neutrality can depend on context; in critiques of police brutality, it may be used with negative connotations.
A firearm, typically a shotgun, designed or used for crowd control and dispersing riots by firing non-lethal or less-lethal projectiles.
Riot gun is usually technical / official / journalistic in register.
Riot gun: in British English it is pronounced /ˈraɪ.ət ɡʌn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈraɪ.ət ɡʌn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated. Related: 'read the riot act' (to reprimand severely).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a RIOT (a violent public disturbance) and a GUN (a weapon). A RIOT GUN is the specific tool used to stop a riot.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS A SUPPRESSIVE FORCE; CONTROL IS A PROJECTILE.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a riot gun?