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slingshot

American  
[sling-shot] / ˈslɪŋˌʃɒt /

noun

  1. a Y -shaped stick with an elastic strip between the prongs for shooting stones and other small missiles.

slingshot British  
/ ˈslɪŋˌʃɒt /

noun

  1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): catapult.  a Y-shaped implement with a loop of elastic fastened to the ends of the two prongs, used mainly by children for shooting small stones, etc

  2. another name for sling 1

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of slingshot

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50; sling 1 + shot 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As for Artemis II, four astronauts External link, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, will slingshot around the Earth’s satellite on a 10-day mission.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Before he ran out of road, he pulled within sneezing distance of the car in front of him and used the draft to slingshot around into second.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

"We would not accept the slingshot in the jet stream and advantage of saving fuel if the turbulence was going to be too uncomfortable", Captain Heard told me.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2025

When David fought Goliath, he was just armed with a slingshot and a few stones.

From Salon • Jan. 15, 2025

"I found these caught in the folds of your clothes and figured you might want them for your slingshot or something."

From "Legend" by Marie Lu

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.