hotshot
noun
hot·shot
ˈhät-ˌshät 
plural hotshots
1
: a talented or successful person who often has a showy or flashy manner
There are, of course, people here who believe that most Washington hotshots, journalistic as well as governmental, are fatly overpaid already …—
Meg Greenfield
Meg Greenfield… some young hotshots are leaving mutual funds … to set up hedge funds at a rate of more than one a day.—Mitchell Pacelle
—often used before another nounMitchell Pacellea hotshot actor
These days, the only teasing that Leinart gets is from friends who tell him that he doesn't take advantage of being a hotshot college quarterback.—Phil Taylor
Phil Taylor2
: a person trained to fight forest fires especially in remote areas
As a hotshot, his job was to rappel from helicopters into wildfires across the country.—Anton L. Delgado and Dustin Patar
—often used before another nounAnton L. Delgado and Dustin Patar[Firefighter Zachary] Resnick said his hotshot crew used to get a break fighting wildfires from late November to late spring. Now, they're on duty nearly year-round.—Lilia Luciano
Lilia Luciano3
: a fast freight train
First is a hotshot, LADAF, an automobile and trailer train from Los Angeles to Dallas ("F" stands for Forwarder). Its route through Texas is roundabout, so LADAF has to really move, and move it does …—Fred W. Frailey
Fred W. FraileyExamples of hotshot in a Sentence
The company has hired a couple of young hotshots to revamp its advertising campaign.
That guy thinks he's a real hotshot.
Recent Examples on the Web
Foster certainly replenished his coaching staff, hiring nine new assistants, including hotshot offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2025
In Small Town, Big Story, Hendricks plays Wendy Patterson, a Hollywood hotshot producer who returns to her Irish hometown with a major film production only to shine a spotlight on a hidden secret.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2025
Over the course of the season, Langdon develops a bond with newcomer resident Mel (Taylor Dearden) while clashing hard with new intern Dr. Santos (Isa Briones), a hotshot herself who bristles against Langdon’s stern reprimands for her mistakes and oversteps.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
The executive director of Colorado’s Department of Natural Resources instead was joined by a hodgepodge of U.S. Forest Service employees: a forest technician, a campgrounds manager, three seasonal hotshot firefighters.
—Elise Schmelzer, The Denver Post, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hotshot
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Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2025
In Small Town, Big Story, Hendricks plays Wendy Patterson, a Hollywood hotshot producer who returns to her Irish hometown with a major film production only to shine a spotlight on a hidden secret.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2025
Over the course of the season, Langdon develops a bond with newcomer resident Mel (Taylor Dearden) while clashing hard with new intern Dr. Santos (Isa Briones), a hotshot herself who bristles against Langdon’s stern reprimands for her mistakes and oversteps.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
The executive director of Colorado’s Department of Natural Resources instead was joined by a hodgepodge of U.S. Forest Service employees: a forest technician, a campgrounds manager, three seasonal hotshot firefighters.
—Elise Schmelzer, The Denver Post, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hotshot
Cite this Entry
“Hotshot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hotshot. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hotshot
noun
hot·shot
ˈhät-ˌshät
: a showily skillful person
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