# gunpoint

/ˈɡənˌpɔɪnt/ (US) · /ɡˈʌnpɔɪnt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gunpoint
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

the situation where someone is being threatened with a gun. You usually hear this when a person is forced to do something while a weapon is pointed at them.

For teachers: the state of being threatened by a firearm held in close proximity. Typically occurs within prepositional phrases to describe the conditions of a crime or forced action.

## Examples

- The thief robbed the store at gunpoint.
- The witness described how the driver was forced out of the car at gunpoint in broad daylight.
- Historians noted that the treaty was signed at gunpoint, rendering the subsequent territorial concessions legally and morally questionable in the eyes of the international community.

## Usage notes

- Almost exclusively used in the prepositional phrase 'at gunpoint'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.