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

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

Now in high school, she recently won a state championship in the shot put event and placed fourth in the discus event.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

Crean Lutheran’s Noah Richardson cleared 15-6 to win the pole vault while Redondo Union’s Bo Ausmus won the discus with a throw of 185-7 and the shot put with a mark of 61-9.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 24, 2026

Nicoll is also a three-time British shot put champion and is targeting an appearance at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this summer.

From BBC ● Feb. 15, 2026

We had capital sport, and a fat turkey which I shot put some more strength into Dio’s muscles.

From With Axe and Rifle by Meyer, H.