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
However, Tony lauded his SWAT team’s rescue of the 4-year-old girl, saying deputies promptly handled what could have developed into an active shooter situation at the North Lauderdale Walmart, where Nathan and his daughter were found after the killings.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2025
The emergency notification system would function similarly to those used for active shooter situations, instantly sending emails and text messages.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
The city said police responded at about 10:30 p.m. to the active shooter situation at KDC/One, which is a cosmetics and toiletries company.
—Brian Dakss, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2025
The indictment alleges that despite having time to respond to the shooting, Gonzales failed to act to impede the gunman and failed to follow active shooter training by not advancing toward the gunfire.
—Jenny Wagnon Courts, ABC News, 19 Dec. 2024
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Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2025
The emergency notification system would function similarly to those used for active shooter situations, instantly sending emails and text messages.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
The city said police responded at about 10:30 p.m. to the active shooter situation at KDC/One, which is a cosmetics and toiletries company.
—Brian Dakss, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2025
The indictment alleges that despite having time to respond to the shooting, Gonzales failed to act to impede the gunman and failed to follow active shooter training by not advancing toward the gunfire.
—Jenny Wagnon Courts, ABC News, 19 Dec. 2024
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 4 Mar. 2025.
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