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

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

Ellis nodded, and walked away into the dressing-room to change his light sprinting shoes for the heavier ones, with extra spikes in the heel, to be used in the shot put and high jump.

From Dick Randall The Young Athlete by Clark, Ellery H.