shotgun
Shotgun (noun) means a gun that fires a spray of small metal pellets, typically used for hunting or sport shooting. Example: “He kept a shotgun for hunting pheasant.”
How to use shotgun
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA pellet-firing gun; also slang for the front passenger seat, or a scattershot approach to a problem.
Word forms
shotgunned past tense, shotguns plural, shotguns singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He kept a _____ for hunting pheasant.
Etymology
From shot + gun; the "front passenger seat" sense comes from the phrase "ride shotgun", referring to the armed guard who once sat beside a stagecoach driver.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “shotgun” mean?
The word “shotgun” means a gun that fires a spray of small metal pellets, typically used for hunting or sport shooting. In plain terms, a pellet-firing gun; also slang for the front passenger seat, or a scattershot approach to a problem.
How do you pronounce “shotgun”?
“Shotgun” is pronounced SHOT-guhn (/ˈʃɑtɡʌn/ in IPA).
How do you use “shotgun” in a sentence?
Here is “shotgun” used in a sentence: “He kept a shotgun for hunting pheasant.”
What part of speech is “shotgun”?
Depending on how it is used, “shotgun” can be a noun and an adjective.
Is “shotgun” a common word?
“Shotgun” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “shotgun” have?
“Shotgun” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a gun that fires a spray of small metal pellets, typically used for hunting or sport shooting.
What does it mean to "call shotgun"?
Calling "shotgun" means claiming the front passenger seat of a vehicle before anyone else does, usually by shouting the word out loud. This is an informal use of "shotgun" as a noun referring to that seat specifically.
What is a "shotgun approach" to a problem?
A shotgun approach describes tackling a problem using many scattered attempts rather than one focused, targeted effort. The term draws on the image of a shotgun's wide spray of pellets rather than a single precise shot.
What is the difference between a shotgun and other types of guns?
A shotgun fires a spray of small metal pellets in a spread pattern, typically for hunting or sport shooting, whereas rifles and handguns fire a single projectile aimed at one point. This spread is what gives rise to the figurative "shotgun" meaning of a broad, scattered approach.