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

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

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

Jamaica's Rajindra Campbell won the shot put with a 2026 world best of 21.77m.

From Barron's • Feb. 1, 2026

Her attorney, Joshua Block of the American Civil Liberties Union, said she has been winning in the shot put and discus “through hard work and practice.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2026

If he uses both arms in making a shot," put in Uncle Billy, "he forfeits both matches.

From Fore! by Loan, Charles Emmett Van