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

There was Peeke’s empty-netter from 185 feet and, in the first period, Parker Wotherspoon scored his first goal in his 76-game NHL career, a veritable snipe over Vasilevskiy’s shoulder. —Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 15 Jan. 2025

Quinton Byfield’s impressive second snipe of the game gave the Kings an uplifting finish and the 4-3 overtime victory will keep a group that’s responded well to Jim Hiller’s positivity and connective personality moving forward. —Eric Stephens, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024

Verb

If Rob was a faithful, why wouldn’t the traitors have sniped him out by now? —Nick Caruso, TVLine, 6 Feb. 2025

Planes are great for sniping Commanders, for instance. —David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Feb. 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

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