firearm
A weapon that launches a projectile using the explosive force of gunpowder.
[C] Countable
pl: firearms
This term is a technical and legal designation. It encompasses a broad range of weapons from handguns to rifles, focusing on the mechanism of ignition rather than the specific shape or purpose of the tool. It carries a clinical, official tone often found in law enforcement reports or legislative documents.
In common conversation, people usually prefer specific names like gun, pistol, or rifle. Using firearm often signals a desire for precision or a need to remain formal, distancing the speaker from the visceral or violent associations typically linked to the word gun.
Used to count individual weapons, such as a collection of five firearms.