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
1
: of, relating to, or using a shotgun
2
: involving coercion
3
: covering a wide field with hit-or-miss effectiveness
Examples of shotgun in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 11 Apr. 2024
His execution warrant was issued Dec. 13, 2023, for shooting and killing the two family members with a shotgun.
—Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024
On April 5, 1994, the world lost legendary musician Kurt Cobain, who, at age 27, took his own life at his Seattle home with a 20-gauge shotgun.
—Gillian Telling, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
There’s also no legal requirement for gun owners to register firearms or have a license for rifles and shotguns.
—Hannah Pinski, The Courier-Journal, 25 Mar. 2024
The restaurant is decorated with family photos, sports flags, animal taxidermy, pictures of locals, display shotguns and more.
—Jenny Rudolph, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Mar. 2024
He’s accused of being a member of a local outlaw motorcycle gang and committing numerous firearms crimes in connection with the gang’s enterprise, including stealing a shotgun from his own Sheriff’s Department.
—Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
The deputy holding the shotgun stays in the same spot and aims the weapon at what appears to be someone coming out of the garage.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024
Each armed with a 12-gauge shotgun, Lyle, then 21, and Erik, then 18, shot their parents more than a dozen times.
—Jessica Sager, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
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 raffle
Sponsorship 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 raffle
Sponsorship 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
Noun
The sheriff’s spokesman said Hunter then spotted the sheriff’s officials and reached for a shotgun in his car and shot himself once in the chest.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 11 Apr. 2024
His execution warrant was issued Dec. 13, 2023, for shooting and killing the two family members with a shotgun.
—Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024
On April 5, 1994, the world lost legendary musician Kurt Cobain, who, at age 27, took his own life at his Seattle home with a 20-gauge shotgun.
—Gillian Telling, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
There’s also no legal requirement for gun owners to register firearms or have a license for rifles and shotguns.
—Hannah Pinski, The Courier-Journal, 25 Mar. 2024
The restaurant is decorated with family photos, sports flags, animal taxidermy, pictures of locals, display shotguns and more.
—Jenny Rudolph, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Mar. 2024
He’s accused of being a member of a local outlaw motorcycle gang and committing numerous firearms crimes in connection with the gang’s enterprise, including stealing a shotgun from his own Sheriff’s Department.
—Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
The deputy holding the shotgun stays in the same spot and aims the weapon at what appears to be someone coming out of the garage.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024
Each armed with a 12-gauge shotgun, Lyle, then 21, and Erik, then 18, shot their parents more than a dozen times.
—Jessica Sager, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
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 raffle
Sponsorship 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 raffle
Sponsorship 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
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shotgun.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Shotgun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shotgun. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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