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
Caitlin Antoniosactive shooter drills
Examples of active shooter in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Gonzales, a 10-year veteran of the police force, had extensive active shooter training, the special prosecutor said.
—CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Prosecutors say Arredondo failed to identify the situation as an active shooter, ordered officers to delay entry while searching for keys, attempted to negotiate with the gunman and directed officers away from immediate confrontation, even as children were being shot inside the classrooms.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 6 Jan. 2026
Gonzales, a 10-year veteran of the police force, had extensive active shooter training, the special prosecutor said.
—Jim Vertuno, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
But earlier this year, Texas lawmakers passed the Uvalde Strong Act, which sets new requirements for active shooter training and shooting response plans for police and schools.
—Jim Vertuno, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026
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CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Prosecutors say Arredondo failed to identify the situation as an active shooter, ordered officers to delay entry while searching for keys, attempted to negotiate with the gunman and directed officers away from immediate confrontation, even as children were being shot inside the classrooms.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 6 Jan. 2026
Gonzales, a 10-year veteran of the police force, had extensive active shooter training, the special prosecutor said.
—Jim Vertuno, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
But earlier this year, Texas lawmakers passed the Uvalde Strong Act, which sets new requirements for active shooter training and shooting response plans for police and schools.
—Jim Vertuno, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for active shooter
Cite this Entry
“Active shooter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/active%20shooter. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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