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

During previous sessions, participants learned about the police hiring process, crime scene investigations, use of force, technology crime, traffic enforcement, crime prevention, drug education and active shooter response, officials said. —Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025

Swatting refers to the act of falsely reporting an emergency, often involving an active shooter, to prompt a massive law enforcement response. —Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 2025

The fake active shooter reports came amid a nationwide wave of similar calls targeting universities in recent weeks. —Davis Winkie, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2025

Such drills cover a range of threats inside the school, including criminal activity and active shooters. —Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 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