# Thompson

/ˈtɑmpsən/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/thompson
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a surname

noun · CEFR A1

a very common last name in English-speaking countries.

For teachers: a common English-language surname of patronymic origin, meaning 'son of Thomas'.

- Professor Thompson will be giving the lecture on modern history today.
- The Thompson family has lived in this valley for generations, maintaining the same farm since the late nineteenth century.

### 2. a submachine gun

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a type of automatic gun, often called a 'Tommy gun', famous in old gangster movies.

For teachers: the Thompson submachine gun, an American weapon famously associated with Prohibition-era organized crime.

- The museum has an old Thompson on display in the military history section.
- The detective noted that the ballistic patterns were consistent with a vintage Thompson, suggesting the involvement of a specialized collector.

### 3. a place name

noun · CEFR B2

the name of several towns and cities, such as one in Manitoba, Canada.

For teachers: a toponym referring to various settlements and geographical features, most notably a city in Manitoba.

- They moved to Thompson to find work in the local mining industry.
- The regional hub of Thompson serves as a vital transport link for the isolated communities of northern Manitoba.

## Examples

- Mr. Thompson is our new history teacher.
- The local directory lists over fifty people with the surname Thompson living in this neighborhood alone.
- While the spelling with a 'p' is most frequent, some branches of the family tree omit it, leading to genealogical confusion between the Thompson and Thomson lineages.

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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.