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Glite Dictionary
arms-runner

arms-runner

9.9
A person who illegally moves guns across a border to sell them
  • noun
  • /ɑrmzˈrʌnər/
  • NSFW
translation icon : traficante de armas
  • They are organized militias with informants in foreign ports, and networks of ransom negotiators, money launderers, and arms runners abroad.

Examples

  • The police arrested an arms-runner trying to smuggle weapons across the border.

  • Investigators uncovered a network of arms-runners supplying illegal firearms to criminal gangs.

  • The government is taking measures to stop arms-runners from trafficking weapons into the country.

Synonyms

smuggler
vsarms-runner
  • NSFW
89 3.8

A person who secretly moves goods across borders to avoid paying tax

is limited to transporting firearms rather than smuggling goods generally
trafficker
vsarms-runner
  • NSFW
62 8.0

A person who illegally buys and sells goods or people

focuses on trading activity rather than transporting firearms across borders
runner
vsarms-runner
53 8.3

A person who brings goods into a country without paying customs

is specific to moving firearms across borders rather than any illegal goods
gunrunner
vsarms-runner
  • NSFW
5 8.2

A person who illegally brings and sells guns across borders

is illegal transport of firearms, often across borders rather than general smuggling
weaponeer
vsarms-runner
9.9

A person who sells weapons, often illegally

focuses on transporting firearms across borders, not mainly trading
contrabandist
vsarms-runner
  • NSFW
9.9

A person who moves goods across a border illegally, often to avoid taxes

is narrower, referring specifically to illegal transport of firearms across borders

How Lawful

weaponeer
9.9
arms-runner
  • NSFW
9.9

Surface Forms

arms-runner singular
arms-runners plural

Morphology

arms-runner = arms + runner (transparent) = arms + run + er

Formed by straightforward compounding of 'arms' (weapons) + 'runner' (a person who transports), so the meaning 'one who illegally transports weapons' is directly derivable.

Etymology

Arms-runner is simple to imagine: arms means 'weapons' and runner is someone who 'moves things secretly', so an arms-runner is a person who secretly moves guns or other weapons across borders, usually illegally.