rifleman

noun

ri·​fle·​man ˈrī-fəl-mən How to pronounce rifleman (audio)
Synonyms of riflemannext
1
: a soldier armed with a rifle
2
: one skilled in shooting with a rifle

Examples of rifleman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Bowhunting season would close November 2 for nine days while riflemen took the field. — Al Dawson, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026 Red neon tubes illuminated art works ranging from the disturbing (a black-and-white photograph of a person stuffing sausages in their mouth) to the mundane (a pastoral painting of a snowshoe-wearing rifleman). — Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2026 Idaho’s prison system has nearly completed execution chamber upgrades to carry out the death penalty by firing squad as the state’s lead method and will have a team of riflemen ready to go by the time a state law takes effect this summer. — Kevin Fixler april 29, Idaho Statesman, 29 Apr. 2026 Oforah was an infantry rifleman. — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 12 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rifleman

Word History

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rifleman was in 1775

Browse Nearby Words

rifle gun
rifleman
rifleman bird
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rifleman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rifleman. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

rifleman

noun
ri·​fle·​man ˈrī-fəl-mən How to pronounce rifleman (audio)
1
: a soldier armed with a rifle
2
: a person skilled in shooting with a rifle

More from Merriam-Webster on rifleman

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for rifleman

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