shotgun

American  

[shot-guhn] / ˈʃɒtˌgʌn /

noun

1. a smoothbore gun for firing small shot to kill birds and small quadrupeds, though often used with buckshot to kill larger animals.

2. Football. an offensive formation, designed primarily for passing situations, in which the backfield is spread out with the quarterback positioned a few yards behind the center and the other backs, as potential pass receivers, positioned as slotbacks or flankers.

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adjective

1. of, pertaining to, used in, or carried out with a shotgun.

   a shotgun murder;

   shotgun pellets.

2. covering a wide area in an irregularly effective manner without concern for details or particulars; tending to be all-inclusive, nonselective, and haphazard; indiscriminate in choice and indifferent to specific results.

   He favored the shotgun approach in his political attacks.

3. seeking a desired result through the use or inclusion of a wide variety of elements.

4. having all the rooms opening one into the next in a line from front to back.

   shotgun apartment;

   shotgun cottage.

5. gained or characterized by coercive methods.

verb (used with object)

shotgunned, shotgunning

1. to fire a shotgun at.

2. Slang. to drink (something, especially a beer) quickly, by puncturing a hole in the bottom of a can, placing one's mouth over the hole, and then opening the top of the can slightly, causing the liquid to drain down one's throat.

   I saw him shotgun a beer at the party last night.

idioms

1. ride shotgun,

   1. to ride in the front passenger seat of a car.

      The ride-along program lets you ride shotgun in a racing car with a professional driver.

   2. to protect or keep a watchful eye on something.

      The treasurer is riding shotgun over the nation's economy.

   3. (formerly) to ride atop a stagecoach as a shotgun-bearing guard.

2. call shotgun, to preemptively claim the privilege of sitting in the front passenger seat of a vehicle.

   When I was a kid, calling shotgun was an important part of the drive to school.

shotgun British  

/ ˈʃɒtˌɡʌn /

noun

1. 1. a shoulder firearm with unrifled bore designed for the discharge of small shot at short range and used mainly for hunting small game

   2. ( as modifier )

      shotgun fire

2. American football an offensive formation in which the quarterback lines up for a snap unusually far behind the line of scrimmage

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adjective

1. involving coercion or duress

   a shotgun merger

2. involving or relying on speculative suggestions, etc

   a shotgun therapy

verb

1. (tr) to shoot or threaten with or as if with a shotgun

shotgun More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing shotgun

• ride shotgun

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Etymology

Origin of shotgun

An Americanism dating back to 1770–80; shot ¹ ( def. ) + gun ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Allen was found in possession of a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun and a Rock Island Armory 1911 .38-caliber pistol, the document alleged.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2026

While NFL offenses these days operate out of the shotgun more often than not, the mix is more even in the pros—and especially in Las Vegas.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

MPs are currently considering whether to tighten shotgun licensing laws to bring them into line with restrictions on rifles.

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

“Corporal Jarvis’ deployment of the less-lethal bean bag shotgun at that distance was in accordance with his training and reasonable under the circumstances,” the report states.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026

Everything they had except for the shotgun and the parkas on their backs had just sunk to the bottom of the lake.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

Related Words

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• charge
• compel
• demand
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• restrict
• urge