one-shot

adjective

ˈwən-ˌshät 

1

: that is complete or effective through being done or used or applied only once

There is no easy one-shot answer to the problem.

2

: that is not followed by something else of the same kind

a one-shot tax cut

one-shot noun

Synonyms of one-shot

• occasional
• one-off

Examples of one-shot in a Sentence

this offer is a one-shot deal; if you refuse, you won't get another chance

Recent Examples on the Web

In recent months, engineers working on the DAVINCI mission completed experiments showing how the Venus probe’s cameras and instruments will capture data during its one-shot descent through the atmosphere. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026

Distributed by Megabox Central and adapted from the coming-of-age one-shot manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, the Venice competition title tracks the evolving artistic bond and tragedy shared by two small-town manga creators. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026

Grant Forrest got up-and-down for birdie on the reachable par-4 18th for a 2-under 70 and a one-shot victory in the Spanish Open on Sunday, earning the 33-year-old from Scotland his first trip to Augusta National for the Masters. — ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026

Future work could also include one-shot or zero-shot calibration, potentially allowing a system to work for a new task or user with little or no additional calibration. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for one-shot

• aeronaut
• aforethought
• afterthought
• apricot
• argonaut
• astronaut
• camelot
• coffeepot
• concordat
• cosmonaut
• entrepot
• flowerpot