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

Hikers near California’s Yosemite National Park were sent scrambling after feeling and hearing bullets pass overhead, prompting concerns over an active shooter. —Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 30 Sep. 2025

On Tuesday, the official Facebook page for Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst outside Trenton reported the base was on lockdown due to an active shooter. —Luke Barr, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2025

Law enforcement and base officials determined around noon that no active shooter was substantiated. —Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025

Upon arrival at the ERO Dallas Field Office, ICE officers encountered an active shooter at the facility, targeting immigration officials. —Pilar Arias , Brooke Taylor, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 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