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
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
CBS News, 9 Apr. 2025
So the next day, his father rode shotgun, guiding him through traffic and offering wisdom: Never race other taxis to a fare.
—Jonah Markowitz, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for shotgun
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Noun
Four officers ran to the fence - three pulling out handguns and another pointing what appeared to be a shotgun.
—CBS News, 9 Apr. 2025
So the next day, his father rode shotgun, guiding him through traffic and offering wisdom: Never race other taxis to a fare.
—Jonah Markowitz, New York Times, 8 Apr. 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
See All Example Sentences for shotgun
Cite this Entry
“Shotgun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shotgun. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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