sharpshooter

[shahrp-shoo-ter]

noun

1. a person skilled in shooting, especially with a rifle.

2. Military.

   1. a rating below expert and above marksman, assigned to one who has qualified with a specific score in rifle marksmanship.

   2. a person who has achieved such a rating.

3. an athlete noted for having accurate aim in a sport, as basketball, hockey, archery, golf, etc.

4. Slang.,  a person who engages in short-term business dealings with the purpose of making a large, quick profit without regard to scruple.

5. a spade that has a very narrow blade, used as a garden or nursery tool.

sharpshooter

/ ˈʃɑːpˌʃuːtə /

noun

1. an expert marksman, esp with a rifle

Other Word Forms

• sharpshooting noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sharpshooter¹

1795–1805; sharp (i.e., sharp-eyed) + shooter; compare German Scharfschütz ( e ) expert marksman

Example Sentences

Sullivan spread zippy sharpshooters Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel across two lines and paired them with teammates who excel at distributing the puck.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Add a sharpshooter such as Azzi Fudd to the mix, and you have one of the most potent attacks in America.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The top two sharpshooters in NBA history squared off Monday night — Clippers three-point king James Harden and Golden State long-distance wonder Stephen Curry bringing a high level of excitement to the Intuit Dome.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

This knocked the gunman off his position temporarily, but, "after just a few seconds", he "popped back up" before he was fatally shot by a Secret Service sharpshooter.

Read more on BBC

If a studio or producer were to offer you a cameo as a sharpshooter, maybe in a John Wick-style action flick, would you consider it?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• marksman 
• sniper