noun Uncommon

taser

TAY-zuh

Taser (noun) means a handheld device that fires electrified darts or delivers a shock to temporarily disable a person. Example: “The officer drew her taser instead of a firearm.”

noun

A handheld device that fires electrified darts or delivers a shock to temporarily disable a person.

"The officer drew her taser instead of a firearm."

"Some countries allow civilians to carry a taser for self-defence."

verb

To shock someone with such a device.

"Security tasered the intruder before he could escape."

How to use taser

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA stun gun used by police and, in some places, civilians for self-defence.

Common mistake

Originally a brand name (like "hoover"), now used generically for any similar device.

Common pairings

draw a taser taser someone hit with a taser

Word forms

tasered past tense, tasers plural, TASers plural, tasers singular

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The officer drew her _____ instead of a firearm.

Etymology

Originally a trademark, coined in the early 1970s as the acronym TSER (later TASER) after the fictional "Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle"; the name has since become a generic term for any stun gun.

· First attested 1970

Class of 1970 taser joined the language around 1970.

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Synonyms

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tase

Related words

tase

Rhymes for taser

laser chaser eraser phaser teaser Fraser Glaser greaser

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Frequently asked questions

What does “taser” mean?

The word “taser” means a handheld device that fires electrified darts or delivers a shock to temporarily disable a person. In plain terms, a stun gun used by police and, in some places, civilians for self-defence.

How do you pronounce “taser”?

“Taser” is pronounced TAY-zuh (/ˈteɪ.zɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “taser” in a sentence?

Here is “taser” used in a sentence: “The officer drew her taser instead of a firearm.”

What is another word for “taser”?

Words with a similar meaning to “taser” include tase.

What part of speech is “taser”?

Depending on how it is used, “taser” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “taser” come from?

The word “taser” dates back to around 1970. Originally a trademark, coined in the early 1970s as the acronym TSER (later TASER) after the fictional "Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle"; the name has since become a generic term for any stun gun.

Is “taser” a common word?

“Taser” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “taser” have?

“Taser” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a handheld device that fires electrified darts or delivers a shock to temporarily disable a person.

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