A To Z Weapons Vocabulary Word List

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: 

Sports Vocabulary Words

Weapons Beginning With A:

  1. Air-to-air missile
  2. Air-to-ground missile
  3. Air-to-sea missile
  4. Airburst grenade
  5. AK-47
  6. Ammunition
  7. Anti-aircraft gun
  8. Anti-personnel mine
  9. Anti-tank gun
  10. AR-15
  11. Armalite
  12. Armbrust
  13. Armor-piercing rounds
  14. Arsenal Ship
  15. Artillery gun
  16. Assault rifle
  17. Atlatl
  18. Autocannon
  19. Automatic shotgun
  20. Axe

Weapons A Z

Weapons Beginning With B:

  1. Backpack mortar
  2. Ballistic knife
  3. Baton
  4. Battle hammer
  5. Battle rifle
  6. Battle tank
  7. Battleaxe
  8. Bayonet
  9. Bazooka
  10. Beretta
  11. Blowgun
  12. Bludgeon
  13. Blunderbuss
  14. Bolt-action rifle
  15. Booby trap
  16. Bowie knife
  17. Brass catcher
  18. Brass knuckles
  19. Brass-cased ammo
  20. Bullpup rifle

Weapons Beginning With C:

  1. C4 explosives
  2. Caliber
  3. Caltrop
  4. Camouflage
  5. Cannon
  6. Carbine
  7. Carcano
  8. Cartridge
  9. Chainsaw
  10. Chakram
  11. Claymore
  12. Cleaver
  13. Club
  14. Cluster bomb
  15. Colt
  16. Combat knife
  17. Commando knife
  18. Composite bow
  19. Crossbow
  20. Cutlass

Weapons Beginning With D:

  1. Dagger
  2. Damascus steel
  3. Dart
  4. Davy Crockett
  5. Defibrillator
  6. Demolition charge
  7. Depth charge
  8. Derringer
  9. Detachable magazine
  10. Detonator
  11. Diamondback AR-15
  12. Dirk
  13. Disintegrator
  14. Dismantling Knife
  15. Double-barreled shotgun
  16. Double-edged sword
  17. Dragon fang
  18. Dragon fire
  19. Dragon’s breath rounds
  20. Dynamite

Weapons Beginning With E:

  1. E-tool
  2. Eland
  3. Electric shotgun
  4. Electromagnetic gun
  5. Electromagnetic pulse weapon
  6. Electroshock weapon
  7. Elephant gun
  8. Elite knife
  9. Elite rifle
  10. Emitter
  11. Energy blaster
  12. Energy shield
  13. Energy sword
  14. Enfield
  15. Entrenching tool
  16. Epee
  17. Executioner sword
  18. Explosive reactive armor
  19. Explosive round
  20. Explosives

Weapons Beginning With F:

  1. FAL
  2. Falcon
  3. Feather sword
  4. Fencing foil
  5. Fencing saber
  6. Fighting knife
  7. Fire and forget missile
  8. Fire axe
  9. Firearm
  10. Flail
  11. Flambeau
  12. Flamethrower
  13. Flashbang
  14. Flintlock pistol
  15. Flying guillotine
  16. Folding knife
  17. Frangible bullet
  18. Frying pan
  19. Fubar
  20. Fusil

Weapons Beginning With G:

  1. G36
  2. Galil
  3. Galvanic rifle
  4. Garand
  5. Gas mask
  6. Gatling gun
  7. Gewehr
  8. Giant mace
  9. Gladius
  10. Glaive
  11. Glue gun
  12. Golf club
  13. Gorgon
  14. Gouge
  15. Grappling hook
  16. Gravity gun
  17. Grenade
  18. Grenade launcher
  19. Guillotine

Weapons Beginning With H:

  1. H&K G11
  2. H&K MP5
  3. H&K PSG-1
  4. Halberd
  5. Hammer
  6. Handgun
  7. Harpoon gun
  8. Hatchet
  9. Heat-seeking missile
  10. Heavy machine gun
  11. Heckler & Koch USP
  12. High-explosive anti-tank
  13. Hillbilly armor
  14. Hilt
  15. Hitman’s knife
  16. Hologram
  17. Hornet
  18. Howitzer
  19. Hunting knife
  20. Hydra shotgun

Weapons Beginning With I:

  1. ICBM
  2. Ice axe
  3. Ice pick
  4. Ice spear
  5. Icicle sword
  6. Impact grenade
  7. Incendiary bomb
  8. Infantry rifle
  9. Infiltration suit
  10. Infrared night vision scope
  11. Insurrectionist knife
  12. Interceptor
  13. Ion cannon
  14. Iron bow
  15. Iron club
  16. Iron dagger
  17. Iron mace
  18. Iron sword
  19. IWI Galil ACE
  20. IWI Tavor

Weapons Beginning With J:

  1. Jackhammer
  2. Jaeger rifle
  3. Jagdkommando knife
  4. Jamadhar
  5. Japanese sword
  6. Jarlaxle’s flamboyant rapier
  7. Jarlaxle’s kris
  8. Javelin
  9. Javelin missile
  10. Jet-powered knife
  11. Jetpack
  12. Jihadist knife
  13. Jinming M4
  14. Jinx pistol
  15. Jokoto
  16. Joystick
  17. Juggernaut suit
  18. Juggler’s club
  19. Justicebringer
  20. Jutte

Weapons Beginning With K:

  1. K98
  2. Kalashnikov
  3. Karabiner
  4. Karambit
  5. Katana
  6. Keyblade
  7. Khopesh
  8. Khukuri
  9. Kilij
  10. Killing knife
  11. Kimber 1911
  12. Kinetic bombardment
  13. King’s sword
  14. Kite shield
  15. Klingon disruptor
  16. Knife
  17. Kogarasumaru
  18. Kris
  19. Kryss
  20. Kukri

Weapons Beginning With L:

  1. L85A2
  2. L96
  3. Lance
  4. Landmine
  5. Laser gun
  6. Laser sword
  7. Lasso
  8. Lead pipe
  9. Leather armor
  10. Leatherman
  11. Lee-Enfield
  12. Lever-action rifle
  13. Lichblade
  14. Light grenade
  15. Light machine gun
  16. Lightning bolt
  17. Lithium-ion battery
  18. Longbow
  19. Longsword
  20. Luger

Weapons Beginning With M:

  1. M1 Garand
  2. M1911
  3. M4 Carbine
  4. M60
  5. M9 Beretta
  6. Mace
  7. Machete
  8. Machine gun
  9. Machinist’s mate’s knife
  10. Magnum revolver
  11. Mancatcher
  12. Mauser
  13. Medusa cannon
  14. Missile launcher
  15. Mjolnir
  16. Monkey wrench
  17. Morning star
  18. Mortar
  19. Musket
  20. Musketoon

Weapons Beginning With N:

  1. NAA mini revolver
  2. Nagant revolver
  3. Naginata
  4. Nail gun
  5. Nambu pistol
  6. Napalm bomb
  7. Narwhal tusk
  8. Navaja knife
  9. Needle gun
  10. Nemean cestus
  11. Net gun
  12. Neutron bomb
  13. New England Firearms Pardner Pump
  14. Nightstick
  15. Nihonto
  16. Nomad knife
  17. North Korean pistol
  18. Nova gun
  19. Nuclear bomb
  20. Nunchaku

Weapons Beginning With O:

  1. Oar
  2. Obliterator
  3. Obrez
  4. Obsidian dagger
  5. Obsidian sword
  6. Occult knife
  7. Ogre’s club
  8. Omni-blade
  9. Omnitrix
  10. Onion sword
  11. Opinel knife
  12. Orbital cannon
  13. Ordnance QF 25-pounder
  14. Ordnance rifle
  15. Osage bow
  16. Osprey silencer
  17. Ostrich feather fan
  18. Ottoman mace
  19. Oversized hammer
  20. Oxtongue spear

Weapons Beginning With P:

  1. P38
  2. P90
  3. Paddle
  4. Panzerfaust
  5. Parang
  6. Peacemaker
  7. Pepper spray
  8. Pepperbox revolver
  9. Pickaxe
  10. Pike
  11. Pistol
  12. Plasma grenade
  13. Plasma gun
  14. Plasma sword
  15. Poisoned dart
  16. Polearm
  17. PPSH-41
  18. Predator missile
  19. Prodd
  20. Pump-action shotgun

Weapons Beginning With Q:

  1. Qalajak
  2. Qama
  3. Qapu khalqi
  4. Qiang
  5. Quad-barrel shotgun
  6. Quadrant
  7. Quaker gun
  8. Quantum gun
  9. Quantum rifle
  10. Quantum sword
  11. Quarterstaff
  12. Queen’s sword
  13. Quenelle
  14. Quicksand grenade
  15. Quicksilver sword
  16. Quillon dagger
  17. Quillon sword
  18. Quiver
  19. Quiver of Ehlonna
  20. Qutrit

Weapons Beginning With R:

  1. Raging bull revolver
  2. Railgun
  3. Rapier
  4. Rattan cane
  5. Razor
  6. Razzia’s sword
  7. Reaper scythe
  8. Red Ryder BB gun
  9. Redguard sword
  10. Refined blade
  11. Remington 700
  12. Revolver
  13. Rifle
  14. Riot baton
  15. Riot shield
  16. Ripping knife
  17. Rocket launcher
  18. Rondel dagger
  19. Ronin sword
  20. RPG

Weapons Beginning With S:

  1. S&W Model 10
  2. S&W Model 500
  3. S&W Model 60
  4. S&W Model 686
  5. Saber
  6. Scimitar
  7. Scythe
  8. Shiv
  9. Shotgun
  10. Shuriken
  11. Sickle
  12. Sling
  13. Slingshot
  14. Smith & Wesson Model 29
  15. Sniper rifle
  16. Spear
  17. Stiletto
  18. Stone axe
  19. Submachine gun
  20. Sword

Weapons Beginning With T:

  1. Tactical knife
  2. Tactical shotgun
  3. Tank
  4. Tanto
  5. Taser
  6. TEC-9
  7. Telescopic baton
  8. Thompson Center Arms Contender
  9. Thompson submachine gun
  10. Throwing axe
  11. Throwing knife
  12. Tidal wave sword
  13. Tommy gun
  14. Trebuchet
  15. Trench club
  16. Trench knife
  17. Trident
  18. Tungsten knife
  19. Two-handed sword
  20. Type 56 assault rifle

Weapons Beginning With U:

  1. Ulak
  2. Ultra-heavy sword
  3. Ultrasonic gun
  4. Umarex Colt Peacemaker
  5. Umbrella sword
  6. Underwater rifle
  7. Union army sword
  8. Unique sword
  9. Universal charger
  10. Unseen strike
  11. Unwavering shield
  12. Unyielding armor
  13. Upgraded AK-47
  14. Uranium-235 bullet
  15. Urumi
  16. Urutu-2 missile
  17. Ushanka
  18. Utility knife
  19. Uzi
  20. Uzi pistol

Weapons Beginning With V:

  1. Valyrian steel sword
  2. Vampiric sword
  3. Variable grenade
  4. Vashj’ir trident
  5. Vehement sword
  6. Veil of fire
  7. Venetian sword
  8. Vengeance rifle
  9. Venom knife
  10. Veritas sword
  11. Vibroblade
  12. Viking sword
  13. Vindicator minigun
  14. Vindicator’s cleaver
  15. Vindicator’s hammer
  16. Vindicator’s shield
  17. Viper pistol
  18. Vlad the Impaler’s spear
  19. Volcano cannon
  20. Volksturmkarabiner

Weapons Beginning With W:

  1. Wailing blade
  2. Wakizashi
  3. Walther PPK
  4. War bow
  5. War club
  6. War fan
  7. War scythe
  8. Warglaive
  9. Warhammer
  10. Warthog Gauss cannon
  11. Water gun
  12. Westar-35 blaster pistol
  13. Whip
  14. Winchester Model 1897
  15. Winchester rifle
  16. Wind and fire wheel
  17. Winged spear
  18. Wooden club
  19. World Eater sword
  20. Wrist blade

Weapons Beginning With X:

  1. X-9mm submachine gun
  2. X-bow
  3. X-ray gun
  4. Xanadu blade
  5. Xanadu gun
  6. Xanadu shield
  7. Xanthes sword
  8. Xanthos sword
  9. Xeno bow
  10. Xenomorph tail
  11. Xenon flash
  12. Xikrin battle knife
  13. Xiphactinus harpoon
  14. Xiphias gladius
  15. Xiphidium sword
  16. Xiphoid sword
  17. Xiphos sword
  18. XLR-11 pistol
  19. Xuan sword
  20. Xylocopa knife

Weapons Beginning With Y:

  1. Yachtsman’s knife
  2. Yakutian knife
  3. Yarborough knife
  4. Yargılama
  5. Yari spear
  6. Yasmee sword
  7. Yata no Kagami
  8. Yatagan sword
  9. Yawara
  10. Yawarakai
  11. Yawnyer
  12. Yellow jacket gun
  13. Yellow stone knife
  14. Yo-yo
  15. Yogi sword
  16. Yoroi doshi
  17. Yucca sword
  18. Yuhangyuan sword
  19. Yukon Magnum
  20. Yunque machete

Weapons Beginning With Z

  1. Z-77 pistol
  2. Zamboni blade
  3. Zanbato sword
  4. Zat’nik’tel
  5. Zeliska’s grenade launcher
  6. Zen sword
  7. Zenith rifle
  8. Zeno’s sword
  9. Zhanmadao
  10. Zhanmadao polearm
  11. Zhua
  12. Zigzag pistol
  13. Zip gun
  14. Zipline gun
  15. Zirah Bouk
  16. Zombie knife
  17. Zulu spear
  18. Zweihander sword
  19. Zwieback sword
  20. 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.

Keep Learning With Words