firearm
/ˈfaɪəɹˌɑː(ɹ)m/noun
firearm is spelled F-I-R-E-A-R-M: 7 letters and 3 syllables. It appears 4.9 times per million words in written English, the 11,373rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, firearm means “A personal weapon that uses explosive powder to propel a projectile often made of lead” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of firearm is firearms.
How many letters and syllables are in firearm?
| Letters | 7: F-I-R-E-A-R-M |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 4.9 times per million words; the 11,373rd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is firearm?
Firearm appears 4.9 times per million words in written English, the 11,373rd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce firearm?
- /ˈfaɪəɹˌɑː(ɹ)m/
Firearm has 3 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-firearm.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with firearm
Also written: fire arm (one word or two).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of firearm
- firearms plural
- fire arm rare
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does firearm mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A personal weapon that uses explosive powder to propel a projectile often made of lead.
David was arrested for illegal possession of firearms.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Firearm in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense personal weapon:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | arme à feu, flingue |
| German | Schusswaffe, Feuerwaffe, Feuerarm |
| Portuguese | arma de fogo |
| Spanish | arma de fuego, chimba (artisanal), arma pírica / ígnea / ignífera / vulcania |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does firearm come from?
From fire (“projectile discharge”) + arm (“weapon”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).