gunshot

noun gun·shot \ ˈgən-ˌshät \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

Definition of gunshot

1 : shot or a projectile fired from a gun

2 : the range of a gun

3 : the firing of a gun

See gunshot defined for English-language learners

See gunshot defined for kids

Examples of gunshot in a Sentence

He was killed by a gunshot to the head.

Recent Examples of gunshot from the Web

Officers responded to gunshots in a neighborhood near 173rd Avenue and Harrison Street on April 10.

— robert gundran, azcentral, "Goodyear police arrested Phoenix man suspected in drug-related murder," 19 Apr. 2018
Standing before the judge in her courtroom this morning was Dashawn Rice, the now 20-year-old who fired that fatal gunshot outside the FX Market on Alabama 53 one Sunday night.

— ashley remkus, AL.com, "'I just want to say I'm sorry': Man, 20, sentenced to prison for fatal shooting," 19 Apr. 2018
Officers found the man face-down with more than one gunshot wound, lying next a bicycle, an NOPD news release states.

— emily lane, NOLA.com, "'I think he's dead': Broadmoor neighbors awake to 3 shots, a man's body in the street," 18 Apr. 2018
Hunter died from gunshots wounds and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the Lake County coroner’s office.

— chicago tribune staff, Post-Tribune, "Woman shot to death, 8-year-old daughter wounded in Gary, officials say," 17 Apr. 2018
There were no reports of injuries or gunshots when the final update was provided.

— justin l. mack, Indianapolis Star, "Indiana University gives all clear after lockdown for armed man spotted on campus," 15 Apr. 2018
Kansas City crime stoppers On Aug. 13, 2016, at least 20 gunshots pierced their home's front window, killing the two boys and wounding three other children.

— kelsey ryan, kansascity, "Families speak out for victims of some of KC's most notorious crimes against children | The Kansas City Star," 14 Apr. 2018
The little girl was awakened by gunshots on Thursday and found three family members — including Marie Leonetti, Jacob Thayer, and Richard Thayer — dead, the Sacramento Bee reports, citing Amador County Sheriff’s deputies.

— char adams, PEOPLE.com, "4-Year-Old Calif. Girl Finds Family Dead and Uses Slain Grandfather's Phone to Call for Help," 14 Apr. 2018
One officer sustained a gunshot wound in the wrist during the firefight, police say, and Williams’ body was found in the house.

— josh magness, miamiherald, "He asked her, ‘Wanna be famous?’ on Facebook Live — then fired his rifle, La. cops say | Miami Herald," 13 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gunshot.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of gunshot

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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GUNSHOT Defined for English Language Learners

gunshot

noun

Definition of gunshot for English Language Learners

: bullets fired from a gun
: the firing of a gun
: the distance that a bullet fired from a gun can travel

GUNSHOT Defined for Kids

gunshot

noun gun·shot \ ˈgən-ˌshät \

Definition of gunshot for Students

1 : a shot from a gun

2 : the distance that can be reached by a gun

Learn More about gunshot

See words that rhyme with gunshot Spanish Central: Translation of gunshot Nglish: Translation of gunshot for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of gunshot for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gunshot

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gunshot

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