shotgun
noun · verb
Simple meaning
A gun which fires loads usually made up of small metal balls, called shot, from a cartridge.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
shahtguhnSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈʃɑtɡən
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
firearms
A gun which fires loads typically consisting of small metal balls, called shot, from a cartridge.
slang
The front passenger seat in a vehicle, next to the driver; so called because the position of the shotgun-armed guard on a horse-drawn stage-coach, wagon train, or gold transport was next to the driver on a forward-mounted bench seat. Can also be used in situations of claiming other resources such as bedrooms.
American football
An offensive formation in which the quarterback receives the snap at a distance behind the center, often with a running back set to one or both sides of him.
verb
usslang
To send out many (requests, answers to a question, etc), especially in the hope that one obtains a positive result (i.e. reveals useful information, is correct, etc), in the manner of a shotgun firing many balls of shot such that one may hit a target.
usslang
To rapidly drink a beverage from a can by making a hole in the bottom of the can, placing the hole above one's mouth, and opening the top.
transitiveinformal
To verbally lay claim to (something)
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: (firearms) A gun which fires loads typically consisting of small metal balls, called shot, from a cartridge.
Used this way, shotgun is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It stays understated rather than dramatic. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Mild
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Matter-of-fact
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use shotgun
- “The hunter carried a shotgun, ready for small game.”noun
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.