shotgun

1 of 2

noun

shot·​gun ˈshät-ˌgən 

1

: a usually smoothbore shoulder weapon capable of firing shot at short ranges

2

: an offensive football formation in which the quarterback plays a few yards behind the line of scrimmage and the other backs are scattered as flankers or slotbacks

shotgun transitive verb

shotgunner

ˈshät-ˌgə-nər 

noun

shotgun

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or using a shotgun

2

: involving coercion

3

: covering a wide field with hit-or-miss effectiveness

Examples of shotgun in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

All were killed with a 12-gauge shotgun that was found on a kitchen counter. —Greg Norman , Elizabeth Pritchett, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2025

An Army combat veteran whose Gulf War experience triggered severe mental problems was executed Thursday evening in Florida for the 1998 shotgun slayings of his girlfriend and her three young children. —CBS News, 1 May 2025

Adjective

Last season, Jackson went under center on just five drop-backs, while the Ravens’ primary ball-carriers had just 24 carries in non-shotgun looks. —Jonas Shaffer, baltimoresun.com, 3 June 2021

In 2019, in non-shotgun formations, Jackson had 19 drop-backs and combined with Ravens running backs for 27 carries, according to Sports Info Solutions. —Jonas Shaffer, baltimoresun.com, 3 June 2021

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1892, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing shotgun

• ride shotgun
• sawed-off shotgun
• sawn-off shotgun
• shotgun house
• shotgun marriage
• shotgun seat
• shotgun start

Rhymes for shotgun

• begun
• grandson
• gudrun
• handgun
• homespun
• outdone
• outrun
• pashtun
• redone
• rerun
• someone
• stepson

Kids Definition

shotgun

noun

shot·​gun

ˈshät-ˌgən

: a firearm used to fire small shot at short range