sharpshooter

American  

[shahrp-shoo-ter] / ˈʃɑrpˌʃu tər /

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.

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sharpshooter British  

/ ˈʃɑːpˌʃuːtə /

noun

1. an expert marksman, esp with a rifle

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Other Word Forms

• sharpshooting noun

Etymology

Origin of sharpshooter

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

Example Sentences

Back when he was recruiting Mullins, in 2024, Hurley had done his best to make his program standout to the Indiana-born sharpshooter.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

And when Hoiberg recruited transfer sharpshooter Pryce Sandfort, he had an advantage: Sandfort had attended his basketball camps as a kid.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026

They are also believed to be pursuing sharpshooter Dominick Harris, who ranked third in the nation last season by making 44.8% of his three-pointers for Loyola Marymount before entering the transfer portal.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2024

Over the previous few nights, a “pest control contractor” — a robustly bearded sharpshooter equipped with an all-terrain vehicle and powerful spotlight — had been riding through the Arid Recovery reserve, shooting cats.

From New York Times • Apr. 16, 2024

The Zemeni sharpshooter was long-limbed, brown-skinned, constantly in motion.

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo

Related Words

• marksman
• sniper