active shooter
noun
plural active shooters
: a person who is illegally using a firearm to kill or try to kill people especially in a public place : a person who is shooting at people
Stunned shoppers and mall employees initially mistook the sound of glass breaking for gunshots, leading to false rumors of an active shooter.—
Caitlin Antonios
Caitlin Antoniosactive shooter drills
Examples of active shooter in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The scene is considered an active shooter situation and a shelter-in-place order has been issued for Canfield Mountain Trailhead and the surrounding area.
—Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 29 June 2025
Two people, believed to be fire personnel, were fatally shot and others injured while responding to a brush fire in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and at least one active shooter continues to fire at law enforcement with high-powered rifles, according to Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris.
—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 29 June 2025
While active shooter incidents happened every day of the week, Monday had the most with seven.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 6 June 2025
Each year since Columbine, on one of our opening staff days, before the students return, faculty are required to attend active shooter drills.
—Sally Ventura
june 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for active shooter
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Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 29 June 2025
Two people, believed to be fire personnel, were fatally shot and others injured while responding to a brush fire in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and at least one active shooter continues to fire at law enforcement with high-powered rifles, according to Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris.
—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 29 June 2025
While active shooter incidents happened every day of the week, Monday had the most with seven.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 6 June 2025
Each year since Columbine, on one of our opening staff days, before the students return, faculty are required to attend active shooter drills.
—Sally Ventura
june 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for active shooter
Cite this Entry
“Active shooter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/active%20shooter. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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