weapon

WEP-uhn/ˈwɛp.ən/

6 meanings of weapon

1
nouncountable
An object such as a gun or sword used to attack or defend. Also, jokingly, any tool someone uses.
Like a tool, but made for fighting instead of building.
The knight carried a heavy weapon into battle.
Soldiers cleaned their weapons before the long march.
UsageSay carry a weapon.
Note
2
tacticnouncountable
Anything used to hurt someone or to gain power over them.
Like using words to hurt someone instead of helping them.
Fear can be a powerful weapon in the wrong hands.
He used kindness as a weapon to win people over.
UsageSay a weapon against someone, or use it as a weapon.
Similartool, instrument, means
Note
3
skilled personnounslangAustraliacountable
A person or thing that is amazingly good or impressive.
Like having a superhero on your team.
That striker is an absolute weapon on the field.
Our new coach is a weapon when it comes to strategy.
UsageOften an absolute weapon.
Similarlegend, champion
Note

Less common meanings

4
foolnounslangderogatoryIrelandUKcountable
A stupid or useless person.
Like calling someone a clown for doing something silly.
Stop acting like a weapon and just listen for once.
He's a complete weapon for losing the match tickets again.
Similarmoron
Note
5
private partsnounslangcountable
A rude or joking word for the private parts of the body.
He laughed and said the cold pool water had shrunk his weapon.
Weh you get da pussy deh from? Hey, gyal me love you Md love the way you use your weapon Gyal, your pussy tight like a vice grip
2017, Mavado, “Ride All Night (My Kinda Girl)” (in Jamaican Creole)Here, weapon is slang for a person's private parts.
Similargenitals, genitalia, privates, junk
Note
6
verbarchaic
To give a person or thing a weapon to fight with.

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Old English wǣpn, from an old Germanic word. Its very first origin is unknown.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Weapon descends from Old English wǣpn. en.wiktionary.org
The Old English word descends from an earlier Germanic word. en.wiktionary.org
The word's ultimate origin is unknown. en.wiktionary.org