shooter

noun

shoot·​er ˈshü-tər 

plural shooters

1

: someone or something that shoots: such as

a

: a person who fires a missile-discharging device (such as a rifle or bow)

Each scenario begins with a spotter hitting a timer, and as soon as the scenario begins, shooters pull out their first pistol from their holster and shoot five rounds into the targets …

—Isaac Hale

see also sharpshooter, trapshooter

b

: the person who is shooting or whose turn it is to shoot (as in a game)

If the ball carrier continues to cut across in front of the net, the goalie must move with the shooter in order to cover the angle.

—Jim Hinkson

see also jump shooter

c

: photographer

A typical situation is photographing a tall object—a building for the architectural photographer, a saguaro cactus for the nature shooter.

—Dan Richards

see also snapshooter

2

: something that is used in shooting: such as

a

: revolver

—usually used in combination

six-shooter

see also peashooter

b

: a marble shot from the hand

3

: a shot of hard liquor (such as whiskey or tequila) often diluted with something (such as soda)

… a pinewood bar where guests can order a Guinness draught or a whiskey shooter.

—Patrice Wilding

also : a small amount of food served in a shot glass

Dishes like a "deconstructed taco"—lobster with avocado mousse, lime sorbet in tequila, and a clear salsa shooter—are polished without being precious …

—Gourmet

But for fun and games and something decidedly different, order an oyster shooter—a shot glass of mango and mint puree with a tiny shucked oyster in its depths.

—Elise Maclay

4

: a video game where the play is primarily focused on shooting enemies

So it's hardly surprising that the military has made use of video game shooters in its training and recruiting efforts.

—Peter Suderman

see also first-person shooter

see also square shooter, straight shooter

Synonyms

• marksman
• sharpshooter
• shot

Examples of shooter in a Sentence

The police are looking for the shooter.

there were eight shooters taking turns at the same target in the final competition

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing shooter

• active shooter
• first-person shooter
• jump shooter
• six-shooter
• square shooter
• straight shooter