Bear arms
U.S. Naturalization Test (2025 Standard) glossary · Course Foundations
Definition
To own and carry weapons (2nd Amendment); in the Oath, to serve as a fighting soldier.
Bear arms in plain English
To "bear arms" means to own and carry weapons, most famously guns, a right connected to the Second Amendment. Watch out for one twist: in the citizenship Oath of Allegiance, "bear arms on behalf of the United States" has a slightly different meaning, referring to serving as a soldier who fights if the country needs you. So the same phrase means "carry weapons" in the Constitution but "serve in the military" in the Oath, and knowing both meanings helps you answer test questions correctly.
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