snipe

1 of 2

noun

ˈsnīp 

plural snipes

1

or plural snipe : any of various usually slender-billed birds of the sandpiper family

especially : any of several game birds (especially genus Gallinago) especially of marshy areas

2

: a contemptible person

snipe

2 of 2

verb

sniped; sniping

intransitive verb

1

: to shoot at exposed individuals (as of an enemy's forces) from a usually concealed point of vantage

2

: to aim a carping or snide attack

sniper noun

Examples of snipe in a Sentence

Verb

Enemy fighters sniped at them from vacant buildings.

One of the senators sniped, “What does he think this is, a monarchy?”.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The brothers and their wives – including Jae-wan’s younger wife (Claudia Kim) meet for an awkward dinner that devolves into snipes. —Randy Myers, Mercury News, 8 May 2025

After two decades of snipes and barbed words traded back and forth, Madonna and Sir Elton John are here to report a groundbreaking piece of news — their feud is apparently over. —Stephen Daw, Billboard, 7 Apr. 2025

Verb

In the Northeastern Conference, senior captain Madeline Reynolds (16 saves) shattered the program record for career saves (436 overall), while freshman Ashley Wallace sniped the game-ending goal in double overtime as Beverly topped Swampscott 13-12. —Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 22 Apr. 2025

Shooting was not limited to the commons in Concord and Lexington and sniping on nearby roads. —Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse snīpa snipe; akin to Old High German snepfa snipe

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for snipe

• gripe
• hype
• lipe
• pipe
• ripe
• sipe
• skype
• stipe
• stripe
• strype
• swipe
• tripe

Kids Definition

snipe

1 of 2 noun

ˈsnīp 

plural snipes or snipe

: any of several birds that have a long slender bill, live mostly in marshy areas, and are related to the sandpipers

snipe

2 of 2 verb

sniped; sniping

1

: to shoot at exposed individuals of an enemy's forces from a usually concealed point

2

: to attack with unfair or cutting remarks

sniper noun