English Reference

Word

carbine

Phoneticscar·bine

US/ˈkɑɹˌbaɪn/

UK/kˈɑːbaɪn/

Definition

n. a short, light rifle that is easier to carry and use in tight spaces than a regular long rifle.

n. a short, light rifle, typically designed for use by soldiers or hunters in confined environments.

Examples

“The soldier carried a carbine for close combat.”

“During the battle, the infantry relied on the carbine to move quickly through the dense forest.”

“The transition from the heavy musket to the lighter carbine allowed for greater mobility on the battlefield, fundamentally changing the tactics of 19th-century warfare.”

Examples

simple

“The soldier carried a carbine for close combat.”

contextual

“During the battle, the infantry relied on the carbine to move quickly through the dense forest.”

complex

“The transition from the heavy musket to the lighter carbine allowed for greater mobility on the battlefield, fundamentally changing the tactics of 19th-century warfare.”

Real-World Examples

“During their investigation, officers found and seized five firearms from the property, including a semi-automatic carbine rifle and a shotgun.”
Toronto Sun · 25 Aug 2026

Etymology

Ca. 1600, from French carabine. Doublet of carabine.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/carbine

English Reference