silencer

noun

si·​lenc·​er ˈsī-lən(t)-sər How to pronounce silencer (audio)
: one that silences: such as
a
chiefly British : the muffler of an internal combustion engine
b
: a silencing device for small arms

Examples of silencer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web They were arrested on suspicion of possession of a steroid, an assault weapon, a silencer and narcotics as well as manufacturing and selling metal knuckles and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the news release. Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Paul Faye, 55, was arrested Monday on a single charge of possession of an unregistered firearm or silencer. Brandy Zadrozny, NBC News, 7 Feb. 2024 From the 11:50 mark of the first half to the 5:02 mark, San Diego State rifled off 6-0 spurt ... followed by an 8-0 burst from Colorado State ... followed by an 8-0 answer from the home team ... followed by a 5-0 silencer from the plucky visitors. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2024 In 1975, August Maniaci was murdered outside his East Side home by someone with a .22-caliber pistol equipped with a silencer. Journal Sentinel, 17 Jan. 2024 The silencer on the gun in the photo is actually a Pat McGrath lipstick that Swift is known to wear. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2024 Brannon was arrested in June 2023, when he was found in possession of an unregistered rifle and two silencers, authorities said. Mona Darwish, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Dec. 2023 Union Pacific fired him after accusing him of using the equipment in the Arkansas yard for personal reasons, perhaps to manufacture a firearm silencer. Topher Sanders, ProPublica, 16 Dec. 2023 Prosecutors said Reid recruited a childhood friend, Kenneth Peterson, 45, to build the silencers. Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'silencer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of silencer was in 1600

Dictionary Entries Near silencer

Cite this Entry

“Silencer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silencer. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

silencer

noun
si·​lenc·​er ˈsī-lən-sər How to pronounce silencer (audio)
: a device used on small arms to reduce the sound of firing

More from Merriam-Webster on silencer

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