small arms: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical (Military, Legal, Journalism)
Quick answer
What does “small arms” mean?
Portable firearms intended to be carried and used by an individual soldier or person.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Portable firearms intended to be carried and used by an individual soldier or person.
Weapons designed for personal use, as opposed to larger crew-served weapons like artillery. This includes handguns, rifles, carbines, submachine guns, shotguns, and light machine guns. The term is also used in legal, trade, and arms control contexts to categorize this class of weaponry.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is used identically in military, legal, and journalistic contexts in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral technical descriptor in both varieties. Carries associations with military conflict, gun control debates, and international arms trade.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English in non-military news contexts (e.g., 'small arms proliferation'), due to the higher prevalence of gun-related topics in American media using more specific terms like 'rifles', 'handguns', or simply 'guns'.
Grammar
How to Use “small arms” in a Sentence
The [ADJ] small arms [VERB]...Small arms [VERB]...[VERB] small armssmall arms and [OTHER WEAPONS]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “small arms” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The rebels were **small-armed** with a variety of outdated rifles. (rare, adjectival/past participle use)
American English
- The militia group is **small-arming** itself through the black market. (rare, verbal use)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form)
adjective
British English
- The **small-arms** fire intensified at dawn. (attributive noun function)
American English
- He is a **small-arms** instructor for the Marines. (attributive noun function)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports on the defence industry: 'The company's small arms division saw increased exports.'
Academic
Used in political science, international relations, and security studies: 'The study examined the impact of small arms diffusion on post-conflict stability.'
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might appear in news consumption: 'The treaty aims to curb the illicit trade in small arms.'
Technical
Standard term in military, law enforcement, disarmament, and import/export regulations: 'The infantry squad is equipped with a mix of small arms.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “small arms”
- Using it as a singular noun (e.g., 'a small arm' is very rare).
- Confusing it with 'light weapons', which is a broader category.
- Misspelling as 'small arms' without the 's' on arms.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, handguns like pistols and revolvers are classic examples of small arms.
'Small arms' are strictly personal firearms. 'Light weapons' is a broader category that includes small arms plus heavier portable weapons like grenade launchers, portable anti-aircraft guns, and mortars below a certain calibre.
It would sound unusually formal or technical. In casual talk about guns, people are more likely to say 'guns', 'rifles', or 'firearms'.
Because 'arms' in the sense of 'weapons' is almost always plural (cf. 'arms trade', 'take up arms'). The term refers to a category of weapons, not a single item.
Portable firearms intended to be carried and used by an individual soldier or person.
Small arms is usually formal, technical (military, legal, journalism) in register.
Small arms: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsmɔːl ˈɑːmz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsmɔːl ˈɑːrmz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(none directly; the term itself is technical)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a soldier's **arms** (weapons) that are **small** enough to be carried in their hands or on their person, as opposed to large weapons mounted on vehicles.
Conceptual Metaphor
WEAPONS ARE TOOLS (for a specific, often violent, purpose).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT typically classified as a 'small arm'?