shotgun
1 of 2noun
shot·gun ˈshät-ˌgən 
1
: a usually smoothbore shoulder weapon capable of firing shot at short ranges
2
: an offensive football formation in which the quarterback plays a few yards behind the line of scrimmage and the other backs are scattered as flankers or slotbacks
shotgun transitive verb
shotgunner
ˈshät-ˌgə-nər
noun shotgun
2 of 2adjective
1
: of, relating to, or using a shotgun
2
: involving coercion
3
: covering a wide field with hit-or-miss effectiveness
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2022 On a third-and-fourth, in the shotgun formation, Brissett snapped the ball and backed away in the pocket. Irie Harris, cleveland, 11 Sep. 2022 Finley lined up in shotgun formation with Ashford split out as a wide receiver. al, 4 Sep. 2022 But that drive stalled shortly after first-year center Garrett Dellinger’s shotgun snap over Daniels’ head on second-and-goal from the Florida State 5. Brett Martel, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2022 The match was even going into the third set, but the player who brought tennis to a new level of precision and athleticism 25 years ago seemed to lose a step to Tomljanović's long-armed forehand and two-handed shotgun of a backhand. Dennis Romero, NBC News, 3 Sep. 2022 Food truck operators in Houston are on edge as police look for a shotgun-wielding robber who has already hit a dozen businesses. Fox News, 1 Sep. 2022 Just don’t expect to see Sark riding shotgun in that unmistakable Lambo, though. Nick Moyle, San Antonio Express-News, 27 Aug. 2022 The shark-attack thriller also stars country singer Trace Adkins as a man — distraught after his daughter has been killed by a shark — who takes matters (and a shotgun) into his own hands when the authorities are slow to act. Michael O'sullivan, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2022 Jonas Shaffer, baltimoresun.com, 3 June 2021 In 2019, in non-shotgun formations, Jackson had 19 drop-backs and combined with Ravens running backs for 27 carries, according to Sports Info Solutions. Jonas Shaffer, baltimoresun.com, 3 June 2021 Lunch and registration begin at 11 a.m., with a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start. Post-Tribune, 7 July 2017 Outing highlights include: Registration, lunch and a putting contest (noon)Shotgun start (1:30 p.m.)Dinner (6:30 p.m.)Proximities, skins, awards and a 50/50 raffleSponsorship opportunities are still available for the event. Megan Becka, cleveland.com, 13 June 2017 Outing highlights include:Registration, lunch and a putting contest (noon)Shotgun start (1:30 p.m.)Dinner (6:30 p.m.)Proximities, skins, awards and a 50/50 raffleSponsorship opportunities are still available for the event. Megan Becka, cleveland.com, 13 June 2017 Check-in at 11 a.m. followed by 1 p.m. shotgun start. Nick Roth, The Mercury News, 7 June 2017 See More
Noun
But when holder Tanner McGee, who is also the Jaguars’ backup quarterback, shifted into the shotgun formation, the Bruins quickly tried to gird themselves for a potential knockout punch. Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2022 On a third-and-fourth, in the shotgun formation, Brissett snapped the ball and backed away in the pocket. Irie Harris, cleveland, 11 Sep. 2022 Finley lined up in shotgun formation with Ashford split out as a wide receiver. al, 4 Sep. 2022 But that drive stalled shortly after first-year center Garrett Dellinger’s shotgun snap over Daniels’ head on second-and-goal from the Florida State 5. Brett Martel, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2022 The match was even going into the third set, but the player who brought tennis to a new level of precision and athleticism 25 years ago seemed to lose a step to Tomljanović's long-armed forehand and two-handed shotgun of a backhand. Dennis Romero, NBC News, 3 Sep. 2022 Food truck operators in Houston are on edge as police look for a shotgun-wielding robber who has already hit a dozen businesses. Fox News, 1 Sep. 2022 Just don’t expect to see Sark riding shotgun in that unmistakable Lambo, though. Nick Moyle, San Antonio Express-News, 27 Aug. 2022 The shark-attack thriller also stars country singer Trace Adkins as a man — distraught after his daughter has been killed by a shark — who takes matters (and a shotgun) into his own hands when the authorities are slow to act. Michael O'sullivan, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2022 Adjective
Last season, Jackson went under center on just five drop-backs, while the Ravens’ primary ball-carriers had just 24 carries in non-shotgun looks. Jonas Shaffer, baltimoresun.com, 3 June 2021 In 2019, in non-shotgun formations, Jackson had 19 drop-backs and combined with Ravens running backs for 27 carries, according to Sports Info Solutions. Jonas Shaffer, baltimoresun.com, 3 June 2021 Lunch and registration begin at 11 a.m., with a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start. Post-Tribune, 7 July 2017 Outing highlights include: Registration, lunch and a putting contest (noon)Shotgun start (1:30 p.m.)Dinner (6:30 p.m.)Proximities, skins, awards and a 50/50 raffleSponsorship opportunities are still available for the event. Megan Becka, cleveland.com, 13 June 2017 Outing highlights include:Registration, lunch and a putting contest (noon)Shotgun start (1:30 p.m.)Dinner (6:30 p.m.)Proximities, skins, awards and a 50/50 raffleSponsorship opportunities are still available for the event. Megan Becka, cleveland.com, 13 June 2017 Check-in at 11 a.m. followed by 1 p.m. shotgun start. Nick Roth, The Mercury News, 7 June 2017 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
1892, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing shotgun
Kids Definition
shotgun
noun
shot·gun ˈshät-ˌgən
: a gun with a long barrel used to fire shot at short range
shotgun 1 of 3
adjective
as in scattershot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- scattershot
- spot
- chance
- accidental
- random
- inadvertent
- scattered
- incidental
- unintended
- unintentional
- casual
- stray
- unpremeditated
- lucky
- indiscriminate
- haphazard
- chancy
- sporadic
- slapdash
- unplanned
- contingent
- aimless
- desultory
- fortuitous
- unconsidered
- objectless
- arbitrary
- flukey
- helter-skelter
- catch-as-catch-can
- directionless
- fluky
- irregular
- hit-or-miss
- unsystematic
- erratic
- odd
- purposeless
- disorganized
- disorderly
- undiscriminating
- undirected
- unselective
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- regular
- regular
- systematic
- methodical
- organized
- fixed
- stable
- steady
- continuous
- orderly
- constant
- methodic
- set
- arranged
- systematized
- established
- even
- planned
- nonrandom
- deliberate
- managed
- purposeful
- aware
- conscious
- ordered
- orchestrated
- thoughtful
- wilful
- willful
shotgun
2 of 3noun
as in musket
Synonyms & Similar Words
- musket
- pistol
- firearm
- blunderbuss
- flintlock
- harquebus
- handgun
- smoothbore
- culverin
- firelock
- .22
- matchlock
- revolver
- breechloader
- derringer
- fieldpiece
- arquebus
- semiautomatic
- small arm
- sidearm
- .45
- carbine
- zip gun
- roscoe
- arm
- gat
- six-shooter
- rod
- automatic
- twenty-two
- machine gun
- piece
- six-gun
- submachine gun
- self-loader
- heat
- machine pistol
- assault rifle
- speargun
- assault weapon
- tommy gun
- AK-47
- repeater
- forty-five
shotgun
3 of 3verb
as in to pistol
Synonyms & Similar Words
- pistol
- gun
- pepper
- tommy-gun
- machine-gun
- fire (at)
- potshot
- kill
- blaze
- blast (at)
- destroy
- dispatch
- slay
- fell
- ice
- slaughter
- blow away
- bring down
- snipe (at)
- massacre
- butcher
- drill
- shoot down
- wipe out
- pick off
- blot out
- croak
- decimate
- do in
- shoot
- annihilate
- plug
- pop
- drop