stun gun: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, technical, journalistic, law enforcement
Quick answer
What does “stun gun” mean?
A handheld electroshock weapon designed to temporarily incapacitate a target by delivering a high-voltage, low-current electric shock.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A handheld electroshock weapon designed to temporarily incapacitate a target by delivering a high-voltage, low-current electric shock.
A portable non-lethal weapon that interferes with voluntary muscle control and disrupts the nervous system, causing pain, disorientation, and temporary loss of motor function.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is identical in both variants. However, legal regulations and commonality of ownership differ significantly.
Connotations
In the UK, it carries stronger connotations of illegality (as possession by the public is almost entirely prohibited) and police use. In the US, connotations include personal defense, legal ownership (varying by state), and controversy over use.
Frequency
More frequent in American English due to wider legal availability and media discussion.
Grammar
How to Use “stun gun” in a Sentence
VERB + stun gun (e.g., use, carry, fire, deploy)ADJECTIVE + stun gun (e.g., illegal, powerful, handheld)stun gun + VERB (e.g., delivers, incapacitates, discharges)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stun gun” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The officer threatened to stun-gun the suspect, though this verbal form is rare.
American English
- The suspect was stunned with a stun gun.
adjective
British English
- The stun-gun attack left the victim disoriented.
American English
- She took a stun-gun self-defense course.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in the context of security equipment manufacturing or retail.
Academic
Found in criminology, law, and public policy papers discussing non-lethal force.
Everyday
Used in news reports and discussions about self-defence, crime, or police conduct.
Technical
Used in law enforcement, security, and weapons technology specifications.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “stun gun”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “stun gun”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stun gun”
- Using 'stun gun' to refer to projectile Tasers. Incorrect pluralisation: 'stuns gun' (correct: 'stun guns'). Using as a verb: 'He was stun-gunned' (non-standard; prefer 'tasered' or 'shot with a stun gun').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Taser' is a brand name for a specific type of conducted electrical weapon that fires two dart-like electrodes. A 'stun gun' generally refers to a handheld device that requires direct contact to deliver a shock.
Legality varies enormously by jurisdiction. In the UK, they are classified as firearms and are generally illegal for public possession. In the US, laws vary by state, with some allowing ownership with few restrictions and others banning them entirely.
While marketed as 'non-lethal', stun guns can contribute to fatal outcomes, particularly in individuals with pre-existing heart conditions, under the influence of drugs, or from secondary injuries like falls. They are more accurately described as 'less-lethal'.
It works by delivering a high-voltage, low-amperage electrical charge. This disrupts the communication between the brain and muscles, causing involuntary contraction, pain, disorientation, and temporary loss of motor control.
A handheld electroshock weapon designed to temporarily incapacitate a target by delivering a high-voltage, low-current electric shock.
Stun gun is usually formal, technical, journalistic, law enforcement in register.
Stun gun: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstʌn ɡʌn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstʌn ɡʌn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated; related to the verb 'stun': 'stun into silence/submission'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a 'gun' that doesn't shoot bullets but delivers a 'stunning' electric shock.
Conceptual Metaphor
A TOOL IS A WEAPON; ELECTRICITY IS FORCE.
Practice
Quiz
What is a key functional difference between a typical stun gun and a Taser?