What does "weapon" mean?

1. (combat tool) an object used for fighting, attacking, or defending yourself, such as a gun, knife, or sword. 2. (means of control) something used to hurt someone's reputation or to gain power over them. 3. (an annoying person) a person who is very annoying, stupid, or embarrassing. 4. (a highly skilled person) someone who is incredibly good at what they do. 5. (to arm) to give someone a weapon or to prepare a tool for fighting.

How do you use "weapon"?

This verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

weapon

n. · v.

US //ˈwɛpən// UK //wˈɛpən// weapon

1 combat tool (n.)
B1 Intermediate

an object used for fighting, attacking, or defending yourself, such as a gun, knife, or sword.

an instrument designed or used for inflicting physical bodily harm or for defensive combat.

Example

The police found a hidden weapon in the suspect's car during the search.

Example

The treaty strictly prohibits the transport of chemical weapons across international borders to prevent further escalation of the conflict.
2 means of control (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

something used to hurt someone's reputation or to gain power over them.

a means of exerting pressure, harming a reputation, or gaining a strategic advantage over an opponent.

Example

The politician used the scandal as a weapon against his rival.

Example

In modern corporate negotiations, information is often the most potent weapon a company can possess.

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3 an annoying person (n.)
C1 Advanced British English Slang Informal

a person who is very annoying, stupid, or embarrassing.

a derogatory term for an individual perceived as incompetent, foolish, or socially inept.

Example

He made a total weapon of himself by shouting in the quiet library.

Example

The manager was acting like a complete weapon during the briefing, making several basic errors that embarrassed the entire team.

Teacher's tip

Common in British and Irish English; it is an insult that suggests the person is useless or a 'tool'.
4 a highly skilled person (n.)
C1 Advanced American English Slang Informal

someone who is incredibly good at what they do.

a person or object of exceptional capability, power, or effectiveness.

Example

Our new striker is an absolute weapon on the football pitch.

Example

With his analytical speed and deep industry knowledge, the lead consultant proved to be a secret weapon during the merger talks.
5 to arm (v.)
C1 Advanced Formal

to give someone a weapon or to prepare a tool for fighting.

to equip a person, group, or vehicle with weaponry.

Example

The soldiers were weaponed and ready for the mission at dawn.

Example

The government faced criticism for weaponing local militias without providing adequate oversight or training.

Usage

This verb is transitive and requires a direct object.
- arm
- equip
- disarm

Origin

From Middle English wepen, from Old English wǣpn, from Proto-West Germanic wāpn, from Proto-Germanic wēpną (“weapon”), of unknown origin, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *wēbnom. Cognates Cognate with Scots weepon (“weapon”), North Frisian woopen (“weapon”), Saterland Frisian Woapen (“weapon”), West Frisian wapen (“weapon; coat of arms”), Alemannic German Waaffe (“tool”), Dutch wapen (“weapon”), German Waffe (“weapon”) and Wappen (“coat of arms”), Luxembourgish Waff (“weapon”), Yiddish וואָפֿן (vofn, “weapon”), Danish våben (“weapon; coat of arms”), Faroese vákn, vápn (“weapon; whaling lance”), Icelandic vopn (“weapon”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk våpen (“weapon”), Swedish vapen (“weapon; coat of arms”), Gothic 𐍅𐌴𐍀𐌽 (wēpn, “weapon”).

Word family

Nounweapon
Nounweaponry