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

Coyle gave Colorado numbers by joining a two-on-two rush, bursting down the right wing to receive the puck and snipe it past a sliding Dostál. —Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 13 Apr. 2025

McTavish dashed all the way to the left faceoff dot and tucked a far-side snipe under the crossbar. —Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2025

Verb

O’Donnell and Trump have sniped at each other for years. —Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 18 Apr. 2025

Just 1:06 later, Mullaly sniped the equalizer, as the Skippers drew even. —Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 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