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

Police did not identify the shooter or the victims, saying they wanted to ensure family members are notified.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

The shooter has been identified as a 58-year-old man who was originally from the Russian capital, Moscow, but who had been living in the Holosiivskyi district in the lead-up to the shooting.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

She’s a good shooter and passer and plays bigger than her size.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

Now the pair have used some time away from music to build a team-based shooter inspired by the games of Capture the Flag they played in the woods as young Boy Scouts.

From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026

The Valiants shooter surveyed the open net in front of him.

From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John

Related Words

• assassin
• gunman
• hit woman
• murderer
• sniper