Definition of long shot
1 : a venture involving great risk but promising a great reward if successful also : a venture unlikely to succeed
2 : an entry (as in a horse race) given little chance of winning
3 : a bet in which the chances of winning are slight but the possible winnings great
by a long shot
: by a great deal
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Test Your Vocabulary
Slippery Words Quiz—Changing with the Times
- What is an earlier meaning of nice?

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!
TAKE THE QUIZ
A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
Slippery Words Quiz—Changing with the Times
Do you know these earlier meanings of words?
Take the quizWords of Snow and Ice Quiz
A selection of words from the chillier parts of t...
Take the quizName That Thing
Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question ...
Take the quizWord Winder's CrossWinder Play the game
Share long shot
Time Traveler for long shot
The first known use of long shot was in 1796
See more words from the same year