side arm: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Military, Law Enforcement, Sports (Baseball)
Quick answer
What does “side arm” mean?
A weapon, typically a handgun, carried at one's side, especially by military or police personnel.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A weapon, typically a handgun, carried at one's side, especially by military or police personnel.
Any weapon worn on the body, distinct from a primary weapon; also used in sports (baseball) to refer to a pitcher's throwing arm, specifically when throwing from the side.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term in military/law enforcement contexts. The baseball meaning is almost exclusively American due to the sport's prevalence.
Connotations
In the UK, the term strongly connotes official personnel (police, military). In the US, it can also have a strong sports connotation.
Frequency
More frequent in American English due to the dual military and sports usage.
Grammar
How to Use “side arm” in a Sentence
[Subject: personnel] + carry/be issued + [Direct Object: side arm][Subject: pitcher] + throws + [Adverbial: side arm]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “side arm” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The officer was trained to side-arm his pistol quickly.
adverb
American English
- The reliever throws side-arm, generating a lot of ground balls.
adjective
American English
- He has a deceptive side-arm delivery that confuses batters.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rare, only in historical or criminological texts discussing weaponry.
Everyday
Uncommon in casual conversation; used when discussing police, military, or baseball.
Technical
Common in military, law enforcement, and baseball coaching/analysis jargon.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “side arm”
- Confusing 'side arm' (noun) with 'sidearm' (adjective/adverb in sports). Writing it as one word when referring to the weapon (though 'sidearm' is an accepted variant). Using it to refer to any weapon, not specifically one worn on the person.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both 'side arm' (open form) and 'sidearm' (closed form) are accepted for the noun meaning 'weapon'. For the baseball adjective/adverb, 'sidearm' (one word) is standard.
While historically it could include swords or knives worn at the side, in modern usage it almost exclusively refers to a handgun carried by military, police, or security personnel.
A primary weapon (e.g., rifle, shotgun) is the main offensive tool. A side arm is a secondary, defensive weapon, typically a pistol, used if the primary weapon is unavailable or in close combat.
No, it's a separate metaphorical development. It describes a throwing motion where the arm moves parallel to the ground (from the side of the body), as opposed to an overhand throw.
A weapon, typically a handgun, carried at one's side, especially by military or police personnel.
Side arm is usually formal, military, law enforcement, sports (baseball) in register.
Side arm: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsaɪd ɑːm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsaɪd ɑːrm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He came out with guns blazing (from both primary and side arm).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a police officer: their main tool might be a radio or baton, but on their SIDE, on their belt, is their ARM - their side arm.
Conceptual Metaphor
WEAPONS ARE TOOLS (for defence/authority); THE BODY IS A SOURCE OF POWER (in sports).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'side arm' LEAST likely to be used?