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
Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
Shultz also allegedly tried to grab a rifle or the shotgun out of its holder, and at that moment, the deputies shot him multiple times and killed him.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 28 May 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
Short-barrel firearms include rifles with barrels shorter than 16 inches and shotguns with barrels less than 18 inches, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
Shultz also allegedly tried to grab a rifle or the shotgun out of its holder, and at that moment, the deputies shot him multiple times and killed him.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 28 May 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 4 Jun. 2025.
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