.22

7.2

A small pistol or rifle that uses very small bullets

noun

Specialized

: .22

The .22 is popular among beginners due to its low recoil.

Examples

He brought his .22 to the shooting range for target practice.
After cleaning his .22, he stored it safely in the case.
He owns a .22 pistol for home defense.
The .22 is popular among target shooters.
He brought his .22 to the shooting range for target practice.
After cleaning his .22, he stored it safely in the case.
The .22 is popular among beginners due to its low recoil.

Synonyms

firearm

vs.22

258 4.5

A gun a person can hold and fire by hand

is the more specific type limited to those using 5.6 mm ammunition

twenty-two

vs.22

1 7.5

A small pistol or rifle that uses .22 bullets

is the same meaning but written as a numeric symbol with a leading dot

Compounds

.22 caliber

Specialized

5 5.6

A bullet or gun barrel about 0.22 inches wide

.22-caliber

Specialized

1 6.5

A gun or bullet with a barrel opening about 0.22 inch wide

How Big

.45 caliber

Specialized

3 7.2

.38 caliber

Specialized

3 7.9

.22

Specialized

7.2

Surface Forms

.22 singular

.22s plural

Etymology

.22 Comes from the phrase 'point twenty-two', which names the bullet's width in inches at about 0.22 inches or 5.6 millimetres. So a .22 gun is simply a pistol or rifle made to use that small bullet, and that small size is why these guns are common for beginners.