active shooter

noun

plural active shooters

: a person who is illegally using a firearm to kill or try to kill people especially in a public place : a person who is shooting at people

Stunned shoppers and mall employees initially mistook the sound of glass breaking for gunshots, leading to false rumors of an active shooter.

—Caitlin Antonios

active shooter drills

Examples of active shooter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

According to Tisch, the first emergency call about an active shooter in the building was made at 6:28 p.m. ET. —Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025

At a press conference Monday, the NYPD commissioner detailed how multiple 911 calls came in at approximately 6:28 p.m. to report an active shooter inside 345 Park Avenue. —Danielle Wallace, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2025

Adams commended the officers who entered the building during the active shooter situation. —Doc Louallen, ABC News, 29 July 2025

Authorities are investigating an active shooter incident at a casino that sent multiple victims to the hospital with gunshot wounds, Reno Police Department (RPD) Chief Kathryn Nance said during a press briefing Monday. —Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1999, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for active shooter

• microcomputer
• minicomputer
• supercomputer
• commuter
• computer
• polluter
• recruiter
• neuter
• pewter
• router
• scooter
• suitor