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

First responders rushed to the scene on Ellingwood Trail in what was described as an active shooter situation. —Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 15 June 2026

State workers from six departments were bestowed with California’s highest honor for public employees who have performed daring rescues in extreme conditions, including floods, wildfires and active shooter incidents. —William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2026

Midland Memorial Hospital received nine of the victims connected to the active shooter incident. —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 13 June 2026

Midland police said the active shooter situation ended hours after the gunfire erupted in one part of the city before ending up near a veterinary hospital and other businesses. —Jeffrey Collins, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026

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