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

Shelter-in-place protocols designed to protect children from active shooters are activated when ICE agents are in the school parking lot. —Sara Sidner, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026

Nearly one year to the day that health care workers and patients hid amid an active shooter alert at Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital, the man whose actions spurred the lockdown has been sentenced. —Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 17 Mar. 2026

Earlier this year, its clergy and staff underwent active shooter prevention and preparedness training, according to a post on Temple Israel's Facebook page. —Arkansas Online, 14 Mar. 2026

And in January, Temple Israel's staff and clergy participated in an active shooter prevention and preparedness training lead by an FBI official, according to the synagogue's social media accounts. —ABC News, 14 Mar. 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