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

Not surprisingly, scientists have spent considerable time studying the migratory efficiency of the great snipe. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025

Afternoons gave a choice of bass fishing or snipe shooting, and the club’s Cajun guides each had a personal territory that afforded specialized shooting: mallards, teal, canvasbacks, and others. —Nash Buckingham, Outdoor Life, 19 June 2025

Verb

Michigan commit Luke Kelly sniped the game-clinching tally in overtime June 14, as St. John’s Prep knocked off its primary rival in BC High to claim its fifth consecutive Div. —Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 21 June 2025

With 9:24 to play, Lee fired a shot over his back shoulder, sniping twine for his third goal as the Eagles pulled further away with an 11-3 advantage. —Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 12 June 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