shot put

American  

[shot poot] / ˈʃɒt ˈpʊt /

noun

• shot puts
  plural

1. a field event in which a heavy ball or shot is thrown or put for distance.

2. a single throw or put of the shot.

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shot put British  

noun

1. an athletic event in which contestants hurl or put a heavy metal ball or shot as far as possible

2. a single put of the shot

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• shot-putter
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• shot puts
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of shot put

First recorded in 1895–1900; shot ¹ (in the sense “projectile for discharge from a firearm”) + put (in the sense “to throw or cast”)

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

shot put

As a result, long distance events such as the 3,000m steeplechase and 10,000m, and field events such as the shot put and discus, have been left out.

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026

There was the time Justin qualified for track nationals in the softball throw — the kids were too young for shot put.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026

Northern Ireland's Kate O'Connor said she was "gutted" with her throw of 12.85m in the heptathlon shot put.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

Now in high school, she recently won a state championship in the shot put event and placed fourth in the discus event.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

A handful of small iron shot put in the shell will facilitate this operation.

From Ordnance Instructions for the United States Navy. 1866. Fourth edition. by United States. Navy Dept. Bureau of Ordnance

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