shotgun

1 of 2

noun

shot·​gun ˈshät-ˌgən 

1

: a usually smoothbore shoulder weapon capable of firing shot at short ranges

2

: an offensive football formation in which the quarterback plays a few yards behind the line of scrimmage and the other backs are scattered as flankers or slotbacks

shotgun transitive verb

shotgunner

ˈshät-ˌgə-nər 

noun

shotgun

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or using a shotgun

2

: involving coercion

3

: covering a wide field with hit-or-miss effectiveness

Examples of shotgun in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The family was in the middle of a cookout when Silvia arrived, and after an unsuccessful attempt to reconcile, authorities said Silvia retrieved the shotgun from his truck and shot the two women. — CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

Sinner, a lanky twenty-four-year-old Italian with red hair, sharp elbows, and ground strokes like shotgun blasts, had won thirty consecutive matches and was the overwhelming favorite. — Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Adjective

Last season, Jackson went under center on just five drop-backs, while the Ravens’ primary ball-carriers had just 24 carries in non-shotgun looks. — Jonas Shaffer, baltimoresun.com, 3 June 2021

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1892, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing shotgun

• ride shotgun
• sawed-off shotgun
• sawn-off shotgun
• shotgun house
• shotgun marriage
• shotgun seat
• shotgun start

Rhymes for shotgun

• begun
• grandson
• gudrun
• handgun
• homespun
• outdone
• outrun
• pashtun
• redone
• rerun
• someone
• stepson

Kids Definition

shotgun

noun

shot·​gun

ˈshät-ˌgən

: a firearm used to fire small shot at short range