active shooter

noun

plural active shooters

: a person who is illegally using a firearm to kill or try to kill people especially in a public place : a person who is shooting at people

Stunned shoppers and mall employees initially mistook the sound of glass breaking for gunshots, leading to false rumors of an active shooter.

—Caitlin Antonios

active shooter drills

Examples of active shooter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, Marcum called 911 to report a fake active shooter at a store 7 miles away, hoping to divert police attention elsewhere. — Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 26 June 2026

The department also plans to use it during active shooter incidents to help locate victims more quickly, McCue said. — Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2026

Police near the scene of an active shooter situation on June 22, 2026, in Montreal, Canada. — CBS News, 22 June 2026

Midland Memorial Hospital received nine of the victims connected to the active shooter incident. — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 13 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1999, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for active shooter

• microcomputer
• minicomputer
• supercomputer
• commuter
• computer
• polluter
• recruiter
• neuter
• pewter
• router
• scooter
• suitor