gunfight

noun

gun·​fight ˈgən-ˌfīt How to pronounce gunfight (audio)
: a hostile encounter in which antagonists with guns shoot at each other
gunfighter noun

Examples of gunfight in a Sentence

There was a gunfight between the rival gangs.
Recent Examples on the Web Being tried as adults are 23-year-old Lyndell Mays and 18-year-old Dominic Miller, both of whom were also shot in a gunfight that sent bullets into the crowd. Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 8 Mar. 2024 Kopf was the first witness, testifying that in the hours after the 2 a.m. gunfight she was dispatched to take photos of the Martin brothers, who were both hospitalized with gunshot wounds. Sam Stanton, Sacramento Bee, 23 Feb. 2024 The 2-year-old girl was uninjured during the gunfight. The Enquirer, 31 Jan. 2024 But Obama times were kinder and gentler, and this might be bringing a knife to a gunfight — even if the knife in question is justifiably beloved. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Feb. 2024 The remains of a home in East Lansdowne, Pa., on Thursday after a fire broke out during a gunfight Wednesday night. Patrick Smith, NBC News, 9 Feb. 2024 Keller was shot in the chest during the gunfight and later died from his injuries. Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2024 While delivering mail in Compton early one morning in 1991, a gunfight broke out. Brennon Dixson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2023 This includes a legendary gunfight in a New Mexico saloon in January 1880, when Billy shot Joe Grant dead for terrorizing the bar in a drunken stupor. Angelica Stabile, Fox News, 23 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gunfight.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1659, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gunfight was in 1659

Dictionary Entries Near gunfight

Cite this Entry

“Gunfight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gunfight. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

gunfight

noun
gun·​fight -ˌfīt How to pronounce gunfight (audio)
: a fight fought with guns
gunfighter noun

More from Merriam-Webster on gunfight

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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