snipe

1 of 2

noun

ˈsnīp 

plural snipes

1

or plural snipe : any of various usually slender-billed birds of the sandpiper family

especially : any of several game birds (especially genus Gallinago) especially of marshy areas

2

: a contemptible person

snipe

2 of 2

verb

sniped; sniping

intransitive verb

1

: to shoot at exposed individuals (as of an enemy's forces) from a usually concealed point of vantage

2

: to aim a carping or snide attack

sniper noun

Examples of snipe in a Sentence

Verb

Enemy fighters sniped at them from vacant buildings.

One of the senators sniped, “What does he think this is, a monarchy?”.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That festive atmosphere erupted when forward Will Lockwood converted a 2-on-1 rush with a top-shelf snipe that had fans leaping from their seats. —Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 8 May 2025

The Prep scored one second before the half to make it 3-2 with a Barton snipe. —Erik Anderson, Boston Herald, 29 Apr. 2025

Verb

Kam Tremblay sniped the game-winning goal with 16 seconds remaining, as Billerica stunned BC High, 8-7. Dylan Lane found the net six times for Lexington in an 11-7 Middlesex League win against Belmont. —Danny Ventura, Boston Herald, 20 May 2025

However, late in the first period Sunday, Bedard seized the puck after a faceoff scrum and sniped a shot from the slot with 1 minute, 48 seconds left. —Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse snīpa snipe; akin to Old High German snepfa snipe

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for snipe

• gripe
• hype
• lipe
• pipe
• ripe
• sipe
• skype
• stipe
• stripe
• strype
• swipe
• tripe

Kids Definition

snipe

1 of 2 noun

ˈsnīp 

plural snipes or snipe

: any of several birds that have a long slender bill, live mostly in marshy areas, and are related to the sandpipers

snipe

2 of 2 verb

sniped; sniping

1

: to shoot at exposed individuals of an enemy's forces from a usually concealed point

2

: to attack with unfair or cutting remarks

sniper noun