one-shot

adjective

ˈwən-ˌshät 

1

: that is complete or effective through being done or used or applied only once

there is no easy one-shot answer to the problem

2

: that is not followed by something else of the same kind

a one-shot tax cut

one-shot noun

Synonyms

• one-off
• onetime

Examples of one-shot in a Sentence

this offer is a one-shot deal; if you refuse, you won't get another chance

Recent Examples on the Web

Many in the industry point to adopting AI agents and reasoning models demanding 100 times more computing power than last year’s simple one-shot inferencing. —Karl Freund, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025

While this kind of one-shot learning is common with food poisoning–and makes logical sense–the time gap involved has puzzled scientists. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 2 Apr. 2025

Although Lee bogeyed the 16th after hitting into the water, the Australian was able to finish with two pars and maintain his one-shot lead, tapping home from close range on the final hole to seal his debut PGA Tour victory. —Ben Morse, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2025

Holding onto the one-shot lead over both chasers, Lee steadied himself after that shaky 16th tee shot. —Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for one-shot

• aeronaut
• aforethought
• afterthought
• apricot
• argonaut
• astronaut
• camelot
• coffeepot
• concordat
• cosmonaut
• entrepot
• flowerpot