gunlike

Gunlike is an adjective used to describe objects, forms, or actions that resemble or evoke a gun. The term emphasizes visual or functional similarity to firearms, particularly elements such as an elongated barrel, a grip, and a trigger, or a general pistol-shaped silhouette. Gunlike can apply to real firearms in descriptive contexts, but it is also used for non-firearm items whose design or cues suggest a gun.

The word is formed from gun plus -like and is informal and stylistic rather than a precise technical label. It appears in journalism, product design, critical writing, and descriptive reporting to convey impression or aesthetics.

Examples include a prop in a film described as gunlike when it imitates a pistol, or a handheld device whose form resembles a gun, featuring a barrel-like housing and a trigger-style switch. In industrial design or ergonomics, gunlike shapes may be used to convey familiarity or ease of use, or to imply controlled action.

The term is subjective and can carry connotations of threat or aggression depending on context. In neutral scholarly writing, it is often preferable to specify concrete features (length, grip shape, presence of a trigger mechanism) rather than rely on the general label.