ghost gun
noun
plural ghost guns
: a gun that lacks a serial number by which it can be identified and that is typically assembled by the user (as from purchased or homemade components)
Ghost guns, cobbled together with various parts often purchased separately, are popular among hobbyists and firearms enthusiasts.—
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
St. Louis Post-DispatchThe issue centers on so-called ghost guns, which consist of untraceable parts that can be ordered online and then, with a little finishing work, assembled into a working firearm.—Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles TimesEven so, they haven't been outlawed; buying or selling a ghost gun is illegal, but making one remains kosher under US gun control laws.—Andy Greenberg
Andy GreenbergExamples of ghost gun in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The county argued in its lawsuit that the proliferation of ghost guns in California has been dramatic.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
According to Duffy, Dowdell, who was on probation following an arrest in 2019 for felony possession of a handgun, was arrested on May 25, 2024, in Rhode Island by the Providence Police Department for possession of a ghost gun.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 3 Apr. 2025
Prosecutors said cops executing a search warrant on their Locust Ave. home found eight loaded firearms, including five untraceable ghost guns which had no serial numbers.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2025
The effects of this ghost gun marketplace are not only theoretical.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ghost gun
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Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
According to Duffy, Dowdell, who was on probation following an arrest in 2019 for felony possession of a handgun, was arrested on May 25, 2024, in Rhode Island by the Providence Police Department for possession of a ghost gun.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 3 Apr. 2025
Prosecutors said cops executing a search warrant on their Locust Ave. home found eight loaded firearms, including five untraceable ghost guns which had no serial numbers.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2025
The effects of this ghost gun marketplace are not only theoretical.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ghost gun
Cite this Entry
“Ghost gun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ghost%20gun. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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