blunttipped

Blunttipped is an English compound adjective used to describe objects whose tips are deliberately non-pointed, typically rounded, squared, or otherwise blunt. The term appears in technical and safety contexts to emphasize reduced risk of puncture or penetration, as well as to indicate a design choice that alters performance or handling.

In ammunition and ballistics, blunt-tipped projectiles are designed to limit penetration and promote energy transfer upon impact. Such shapes can be associated with training rounds, non-lethal or less-lethal munitions, or certain crowd-control applications, where reducing the risk of over-penetration is a priority. Performance characteristics, including aerodynamics and accuracy, differ from pointed or pointed-nose designs, and blunt tips are chosen based on the specific safety and tactical goals of a given system.

Beyond weapons, the descriptor is common in safety-focused tools and equipment. Blunt-tipped implements include safety scissors, laboratory probes, and other devices where a non-pointed end minimizes injury during handling or contact with skin and delicate surfaces. In medical and laboratory settings, blunt tips are used on certain tools to reduce accidental puncture or tissue damage, particularly in training, handling of delicate specimens, or procedures involving vulnerable populations.

Etymology follows the straightforward composition of blunt plus tipped, with the variant blunt-tipped also widely attested. The term is not tied to a single standard definition and is applied flexibly across fields depending on whether the priority is safety, user protection, or specific functional requirements.