shooter

American  

[shoo-ter] / ˈʃu tər /

noun

1. a person who shoots with a gun, bow, etc..

   efforts to capture the shooter.

2. a gun (often used in combination).

   a six-shooter.

3. a person who shoots a ball, puck, etc., at a goal.

4. a thing that shoots.

   The meteor shower had many bright shooters.

5. a marble used to shoot at other marbles in a game.

6. a person who sets off explosives in oil-drilling operations.

7. Informal. a professional or amateur photographer.

8. first-person shooter.

9. 1. an alcoholic drink served in a shot glass or contained in a miniature bottle.

   2. a dessert or other food served in a shot glass or other very small container (usually used in combination).

      soup shooters; shooters of chocolate mousse.

   3. the container itself.

      white ceramic shooters.

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shooter British  

/ ˈʃuːtə /

noun

1. a person or thing that shoots

2. slang a gun

3. cricket a ball that unexpectedly travels low on pitching

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Etymology

Origin of shooter

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at shoot ¹ -er ¹

Example Sentences

Wings forward Alanna Smith had attempted to block Clark’s three-point shot but did not leave proper space for the shooter to land.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

“The shooter is dead. Thank you secret service.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

The hotel was a “soft target” with a makeshift perimeter, and there were “almost zero intervention points” where the shooter could have been apprehended before arriving, Shortland said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026

World leaders expressed shock after a shooter charged a glitzy media gala in Washington on Saturday night attended by US President Donald Trump -- and relief that there were no casualties.

From Barron's • Apr. 26, 2026

"What kind of message does it send to the people of Underhill, when one of their own can he taken down with no consequences to the shooter?" one protestor wondered.

From "How It Went Down" by Kekla Magoon

Related Words

• assassin
• gunman
• hit woman
• murderer
• sniper