What does "shooter" mean?
Someone who shoots something; a gunner, archer, etc.
Shooter
/ˈʃuːtə(ɹ)/ name, noun, slang
name, noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Someone who shoots something; a gunner, archer, etc.
- Grammar: shooter is listed as name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: air pistol, archer, archer, artilleryman.
- Useful contrasts: civilian, dribblers, goalie.
- Usage evidence: I'm a straight shooter, and most of the time my ego doesn't interrupt my relationships.
How to use "shooter"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "shooter" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "shooter" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "shooter" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "shooter" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "shooter" is acting as name, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "air pistol" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "shooter", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Someone who shoots something; a gunner, archer, etc.
"The shooter put a bullet clean through her head."
- 2 a large marble used for shooting in the game of marbles wordnet
- 3 The player throwing the dice.
"Craps involves someone rolling the dice (a shooter) and additional bettors. The game works like this: The first roll is called a come out roll. There are three conditions: 1. If the dice total is 7 or 11, the shooter wins. […]"
- 4 a professional killer who uses a gun wordnet
- 5 A device for shooting.
Show 14 more definitions
- 6 (sports) a player who drives or kicks a ball at the goal (or a basketball player who shoots at the basket) wordnet
- 7 A firearm. slang
"Now all we need to establish is what a shooter belonging to one of Maitland's goons is doing in a polisman's locker."
- 8 a gambler who throws dice in the game of craps wordnet
- 9 An associate willing to act in one's defence or to act against one's enemies, especially by force. slang
- 10 a person who shoots (usually with respect to their ability to shoot) wordnet
- 11 A loyal advocate or fan. broadly
- 12 A video game in which shooting enemies (or targets) is the main objective.
"I love shooters, RPGs, and pretty much anything with free-roam or gore."
- 13 A professional wrestler who uses actual fighting moves as part of his style, or who speaks his mind during a live or televised event (instead of speaking from a script). slang
- 14 A large marble used for knocking smaller marbles out of a chalk circle.
"You separate the marbles by color until you have four groups, but then you notice that some of the marbles are regulars, some are shooters, and some are peewees."
- 15 An alcoholic beverage typically served in a shot glass.
"We drink tequila as a shooter, but prefer to sip gin slowly to appreciate the flavour."
- 16 A shooting star. rare
- 17 A device supposed to accumulate orgone.
- 18 A delivery that skids after pitching, instead of bouncing.
- 19 A photographer or cameraman. slang
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"I'm a straight shooter, and most of the time my ego doesn't interrupt my relationships."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "shooter"?
Common synonyms include: air pistol, archer, archer, artilleryman, cameraman, carabineer.
How do you use "shooter" in a sentence?
I'm a straight shooter, and most of the time my ego doesn't interrupt my relationships.
How do you pronounce "shooter"?
Pronounced /ˈʃuːtə(ɹ)/.
Etymology
From Middle English schoter, schuter, schotter, scheter, schetare, scheotere, from Old English sċēotere (“shooter”), equivalent to shoot + -er. Compare Dutch schieter, schutter (“shooter”), German Schießer (“shooter”), Swedish skjutare, West Frisian sjitter (“shooter”).