English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun Common

shooter

SHOO-tuh

Shooter (noun) means a person who fires a weapon. Example: “Police are still searching for the shooter.”

noun
1
A person who fires a weapon.
"Police are still searching for the shooter."
2
A video game centred on shooting enemies or targets.
"The new shooter sold a million copies in its first week."
3
A small glass of a strong alcoholic drink meant to be drunk in one go.
"They ordered a round of shooters at the bar."

How to Use Shooter

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone who shoots, a shooting-based video game genre, or a small strong drink.

Common pairings
first-person shooter do a shooter

Word Forms

shooters plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “shooter” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Police are still searching for the _____.

Etymology

From shoot + -er, formed the same way as many English agent nouns.

Related Words

Rhymes for shooter

See all rhymes for shooter →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “shooter” mean?

The word “shooter” means a person who fires a weapon. In plain terms, someone who shoots, a shooting-based video game genre, or a small strong drink.

How do you pronounce “shooter”?

“Shooter” is pronounced SHOO-tuh (/ˈʃuːtəː/ in IPA).

How do you use “shooter” in a sentence?

Here is “shooter” used in a sentence: “Police are still searching for the shooter.”

What part of speech is “shooter”?

“Shooter” is a noun.

Is “shooter” a common word?

“Shooter” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “shooter” have?

“Shooter” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who fires a weapon.

What is the difference between a "shooter" and a "shot" in drinks?

Both are small glasses of strong alcohol meant to be drunk in one go, and many bars treat the words as interchangeable. Where a distinction is made, a "shot" is usually a straight pour of a single spirit, while a "shooter" is often a small mixed or layered drink.

What is the difference between a first-person shooter and a third-person shooter?

Both are shooters — video games centred on shooting enemies or targets. In a first-person shooter (FPS) you see the action through the character's own eyes, while a third-person shooter shows your character on screen, usually from behind, which changes how aiming and awareness of your surroundings feel.

Is a "shooter" the same as a "gunman"?

The words overlap but differ in tone. A "shooter" is, neutrally, any person who fires a weapon, including sport and target shooters, while "gunman" almost always implies an armed criminal or attacker. Only "shooter" fits harmless contexts such as clay-pigeon shooting.

People Also Searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial