A-Z Weapons Vocabulary Word List! Whether you’re a parent educating your child about the various types of weaponry, an enthusiastic conspiracy theorist trying to stay up-to-date on all the latest technology, or just plain curious, it is important to understand some basic weapons vocabulary.
This post will provide you with an A-Z list of relevant words that have been used throughout history and in modern times in reference to weaponry.
We will explore the historical context behind some of these terms as well as hone in on specific examples so that you can gain a broader understanding of different weapon categories, military tactics, and prevention methods utilized worldwide.
A To Z Weapons Vocabulary Word List
Here is the A to Z list of Some Most Popular Weapons:
- A – Ammunition
- B – Bayonet
- C – Cannon
- D – Dagger
- E – Explosive
- F – Flamethrower
- G – Grenade
- H – Handgun
- I – Incendiary Bomb
- J – Javelin
- K – Knife
- L – Landmine
- M – Missile
- N – nuclear weapon
- O – RPG (Rocket-Propelled Grenade)
- P – Pistol
- Q – Q-Ship
- R – Rifle
- S – Sword
- T – Tank
- U – Uzi
- V – Viking Axe
- W – Warhammer
- X – Xiphos (a type of ancient Greek sword)
- Y – Yari (a Japanese spear)
- Z – Zulu War Shield
More to Discover:
Weapons Beginning With A:
- Air-to-air missile
- Air-to-ground missile
- Air-to-sea missile
- Airburst grenade
- AK-47
- Ammunition
- Anti-aircraft gun
- Anti-personnel mine
- Anti-tank gun
- AR-15
- Armalite
- Armbrust
- Armor-piercing rounds
- Arsenal Ship
- Artillery gun
- Assault rifle
- Atlatl
- Autocannon
- Automatic shotgun
- Axe

Weapons Beginning With B:
- Backpack mortar
- Ballistic knife
- Baton
- Battle hammer
- Battle rifle
- Battle tank
- Battleaxe
- Bayonet
- Bazooka
- Beretta
- Blowgun
- Bludgeon
- Blunderbuss
- Bolt-action rifle
- Booby trap
- Bowie knife
- Brass catcher
- Brass knuckles
- Brass-cased ammo
- Bullpup rifle
Weapons Beginning With C:
- C4 explosives
- Caliber
- Caltrop
- Camouflage
- Cannon
- Carbine
- Carcano
- Cartridge
- Chainsaw
- Chakram
- Claymore
- Cleaver
- Club
- Cluster bomb
- Colt
- Combat knife
- Commando knife
- Composite bow
- Crossbow
- Cutlass
Weapons Beginning With D:
- Dagger
- Damascus steel
- Dart
- Davy Crockett
- Defibrillator
- Demolition charge
- Depth charge
- Derringer
- Detachable magazine
- Detonator
- Diamondback AR-15
- Dirk
- Disintegrator
- Dismantling Knife
- Double-barreled shotgun
- Double-edged sword
- Dragon fang
- Dragon fire
- Dragon’s breath rounds
- Dynamite
Weapons Beginning With E:
- E-tool
- Eland
- Electric shotgun
- Electromagnetic gun
- Electromagnetic pulse weapon
- Electroshock weapon
- Elephant gun
- Elite knife
- Elite rifle
- Emitter
- Energy blaster
- Energy shield
- Energy sword
- Enfield
- Entrenching tool
- Epee
- Executioner sword
- Explosive reactive armor
- Explosive round
- Explosives
Weapons Beginning With F:
- FAL
- Falcon
- Feather sword
- Fencing foil
- Fencing saber
- Fighting knife
- Fire and forget missile
- Fire axe
- Firearm
- Flail
- Flambeau
- Flamethrower
- Flashbang
- Flintlock pistol
- Flying guillotine
- Folding knife
- Frangible bullet
- Frying pan
- Fubar
- Fusil
Weapons Beginning With G:
- G36
- Galil
- Galvanic rifle
- Garand
- Gas mask
- Gatling gun
- Gewehr
- Giant mace
- Gladius
- Glaive
- Glue gun
- Golf club
- Gorgon
- Gouge
- Grappling hook
- Gravity gun
- Grenade
- Grenade launcher
- Guillotine
Weapons Beginning With H:
- H&K G11
- H&K MP5
- H&K PSG-1
- Halberd
- Hammer
- Handgun
- Harpoon gun
- Hatchet
- Heat-seeking missile
- Heavy machine gun
- Heckler & Koch USP
- High-explosive anti-tank
- Hillbilly armor
- Hilt
- Hitman’s knife
- Hologram
- Hornet
- Howitzer
- Hunting knife
- Hydra shotgun
Weapons Beginning With I:
- ICBM
- Ice axe
- Ice pick
- Ice spear
- Icicle sword
- Impact grenade
- Incendiary bomb
- Infantry rifle
- Infiltration suit
- Infrared night vision scope
- Insurrectionist knife
- Interceptor
- Ion cannon
- Iron bow
- Iron club
- Iron dagger
- Iron mace
- Iron sword
- IWI Galil ACE
- IWI Tavor
Weapons Beginning With J:
- Jackhammer
- Jaeger rifle
- Jagdkommando knife
- Jamadhar
- Japanese sword
- Jarlaxle’s flamboyant rapier
- Jarlaxle’s kris
- Javelin
- Javelin missile
- Jet-powered knife
- Jetpack
- Jihadist knife
- Jinming M4
- Jinx pistol
- Jokoto
- Joystick
- Juggernaut suit
- Juggler’s club
- Justicebringer
- Jutte
Weapons Beginning With K:
- K98
- Kalashnikov
- Karabiner
- Karambit
- Katana
- Keyblade
- Khopesh
- Khukuri
- Kilij
- Killing knife
- Kimber 1911
- Kinetic bombardment
- King’s sword
- Kite shield
- Klingon disruptor
- Knife
- Kogarasumaru
- Kris
- Kryss
- Kukri
Weapons Beginning With L:
- L85A2
- L96
- Lance
- Landmine
- Laser gun
- Laser sword
- Lasso
- Lead pipe
- Leather armor
- Leatherman
- Lee-Enfield
- Lever-action rifle
- Lichblade
- Light grenade
- Light machine gun
- Lightning bolt
- Lithium-ion battery
- Longbow
- Longsword
- Luger
Weapons Beginning With M:
- M1 Garand
- M1911
- M4 Carbine
- M60
- M9 Beretta
- Mace
- Machete
- Machine gun
- Machinist’s mate’s knife
- Magnum revolver
- Mancatcher
- Mauser
- Medusa cannon
- Missile launcher
- Mjolnir
- Monkey wrench
- Morning star
- Mortar
- Musket
- Musketoon
Weapons Beginning With N:
- NAA mini revolver
- Nagant revolver
- Naginata
- Nail gun
- Nambu pistol
- Napalm bomb
- Narwhal tusk
- Navaja knife
- Needle gun
- Nemean cestus
- Net gun
- Neutron bomb
- New England Firearms Pardner Pump
- Nightstick
- Nihonto
- Nomad knife
- North Korean pistol
- Nova gun
- Nuclear bomb
- Nunchaku
Weapons Beginning With O:
- Oar
- Obliterator
- Obrez
- Obsidian dagger
- Obsidian sword
- Occult knife
- Ogre’s club
- Omni-blade
- Omnitrix
- Onion sword
- Opinel knife
- Orbital cannon
- Ordnance QF 25-pounder
- Ordnance rifle
- Osage bow
- Osprey silencer
- Ostrich feather fan
- Ottoman mace
- Oversized hammer
- Oxtongue spear
Weapons Beginning With P:
- P38
- P90
- Paddle
- Panzerfaust
- Parang
- Peacemaker
- Pepper spray
- Pepperbox revolver
- Pickaxe
- Pike
- Pistol
- Plasma grenade
- Plasma gun
- Plasma sword
- Poisoned dart
- Polearm
- PPSH-41
- Predator missile
- Prodd
- Pump-action shotgun
Weapons Beginning With Q:
- Qalajak
- Qama
- Qapu khalqi
- Qiang
- Quad-barrel shotgun
- Quadrant
- Quaker gun
- Quantum gun
- Quantum rifle
- Quantum sword
- Quarterstaff
- Queen’s sword
- Quenelle
- Quicksand grenade
- Quicksilver sword
- Quillon dagger
- Quillon sword
- Quiver
- Quiver of Ehlonna
- Qutrit
Weapons Beginning With R:
- Raging bull revolver
- Railgun
- Rapier
- Rattan cane
- Razor
- Razzia’s sword
- Reaper scythe
- Red Ryder BB gun
- Redguard sword
- Refined blade
- Remington 700
- Revolver
- Rifle
- Riot baton
- Riot shield
- Ripping knife
- Rocket launcher
- Rondel dagger
- Ronin sword
- RPG
Weapons Beginning With S:
- S&W Model 10
- S&W Model 500
- S&W Model 60
- S&W Model 686
- Saber
- Scimitar
- Scythe
- Shiv
- Shotgun
- Shuriken
- Sickle
- Sling
- Slingshot
- Smith & Wesson Model 29
- Sniper rifle
- Spear
- Stiletto
- Stone axe
- Submachine gun
- Sword
Weapons Beginning With T:
- Tactical knife
- Tactical shotgun
- Tank
- Tanto
- Taser
- TEC-9
- Telescopic baton
- Thompson Center Arms Contender
- Thompson submachine gun
- Throwing axe
- Throwing knife
- Tidal wave sword
- Tommy gun
- Trebuchet
- Trench club
- Trench knife
- Trident
- Tungsten knife
- Two-handed sword
- Type 56 assault rifle
Weapons Beginning With U:
- Ulak
- Ultra-heavy sword
- Ultrasonic gun
- Umarex Colt Peacemaker
- Umbrella sword
- Underwater rifle
- Union army sword
- Unique sword
- Universal charger
- Unseen strike
- Unwavering shield
- Unyielding armor
- Upgraded AK-47
- Uranium-235 bullet
- Urumi
- Urutu-2 missile
- Ushanka
- Utility knife
- Uzi
- Uzi pistol
Weapons Beginning With V:
- Valyrian steel sword
- Vampiric sword
- Variable grenade
- Vashj’ir trident
- Vehement sword
- Veil of fire
- Venetian sword
- Vengeance rifle
- Venom knife
- Veritas sword
- Vibroblade
- Viking sword
- Vindicator minigun
- Vindicator’s cleaver
- Vindicator’s hammer
- Vindicator’s shield
- Viper pistol
- Vlad the Impaler’s spear
- Volcano cannon
- Volksturmkarabiner
Weapons Beginning With W:
- Wailing blade
- Wakizashi
- Walther PPK
- War bow
- War club
- War fan
- War scythe
- Warglaive
- Warhammer
- Warthog Gauss cannon
- Water gun
- Westar-35 blaster pistol
- Whip
- Winchester Model 1897
- Winchester rifle
- Wind and fire wheel
- Winged spear
- Wooden club
- World Eater sword
- Wrist blade
Weapons Beginning With X:
- X-9mm submachine gun
- X-bow
- X-ray gun
- Xanadu blade
- Xanadu gun
- Xanadu shield
- Xanthes sword
- Xanthos sword
- Xeno bow
- Xenomorph tail
- Xenon flash
- Xikrin battle knife
- Xiphactinus harpoon
- Xiphias gladius
- Xiphidium sword
- Xiphoid sword
- Xiphos sword
- XLR-11 pistol
- Xuan sword
- Xylocopa knife
Weapons Beginning With Y:
- Yachtsman’s knife
- Yakutian knife
- Yarborough knife
- Yargılama
- Yari spear
- Yasmee sword
- Yata no Kagami
- Yatagan sword
- Yawara
- Yawarakai
- Yawnyer
- Yellow jacket gun
- Yellow stone knife
- Yo-yo
- Yogi sword
- Yoroi doshi
- Yucca sword
- Yuhangyuan sword
- Yukon Magnum
- Yunque machete
Weapons Beginning With Z
- Z-77 pistol
- Zamboni blade
- Zanbato sword
- Zat’nik’tel
- Zeliska’s grenade launcher
- Zen sword
- Zenith rifle
- Zeno’s sword
- Zhanmadao
- Zhanmadao polearm
- Zhua
- Zigzag pistol
- Zip gun
- Zipline gun
- Zirah Bouk
- Zombie knife
- Zulu spear
- Zweihander sword
- Zwieback sword
- Zwiebelmuster sword
Weapon Words Everyone Meets First
Five hundred names is a lot to read in one sitting, so start with the words that show up in history books, news reports, and adventure stories. Here is how to say each one and what it means.
| Weapon | How to say it | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Bayonet | BAY-uh-net | A blade that clips onto the end of a rifle. |
| Cannon | KAN-un | A large, heavy gun that fires big metal balls or shells. |
| Dagger | DAG-er | A short, pointed knife carried for close fighting. |
| Grenade | gruh-NAYD | A small bomb thrown by hand that explodes after a short delay. |
| Katana | kuh-TAH-nuh | A curved Japanese sword with a very sharp single edge. |
| Landmine | LAND-myn | A hidden bomb buried in the ground that explodes when stepped on or driven over. |
| Missile | MIS-ul | A flying weapon that travels to a target, often guided by a computer. |
| Pistol | PIS-tul | A small gun designed to be held in one hand. |
| Rifle | RY-ful | A long gun fired from the shoulder, made for accurate shooting. |
| Spear | speer | A long pole with a sharp point, thrown or pushed forward. |
| Sword | sord (the w is silent) | A long metal blade with a handle, used for cutting or thrusting. |
| Tank | tangk | An armored fighting vehicle that moves on metal tracks and carries a large gun. |
Armor or Armour? Weapon Words Across the Atlantic
Two weapon words change their spelling between American and British English. Americans write armor for the protective covering soldiers wear, while British writers spell it armour. In the same way, Americans write defense and British writers write defence when they talk about protecting a place or a country. The words sound the same; only the spelling changes.
Weapon Words in Sentences
- The museum keeps a Roman sword and a round shield behind glass.
- In the story, the knight carries a dagger at his belt but rarely uses it.
- A Japanese katana is famous for its curved blade and sharp edge.
- The old cannon by the castle gate has not fired for two hundred years.
- Soldiers in the painting fix a bayonet to each rifle before the charge.
- Our history book shows a photograph of a First World War tank crossing muddy ground.
FAQs About Weapon Words
What is the difference between a rifle and a pistol?
Size and grip. A rifle is a long gun held with both hands against the shoulder, built for accuracy over distance. A pistol is a small gun made to be held and fired with one hand.
What does the word ammunition mean?
Ammunition is the material fired from a weapon: bullets for guns, shells for cannons, and arrows for bows. People often shorten it to ammo.
What is a bayonet?
A bayonet is a knife-like blade that attaches to the muzzle of a rifle, turning the gun into a spear for close fighting. The word comes from Bayonne, a city in France.
Which letters are hardest to find weapon words for?
Q, X, and Z. Even so, this page finds real ones: a quarterstaff for Q, the Greek xiphos sword for X, and the long zweihander sword for Z.






