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

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”)

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

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

By the way, despite medical treatments, B.P.J. recently won a state championship in girls shot put.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

Massey later defended her shot put title with a throw of 52-9.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 31, 2026

This he cut, trimmed up, and attached his line, a number two Sproat hook and a split shot, put on a "hopper," and was ready for business.

From Cruisings in the Cascades A Narrative of Travel, Exploration, Amateur Photography, Hunting, and Fishing by George O. Shields