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
Midland Memorial Hospital received nine of the victims connected to the active shooter incident.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 13 June 2026
Midland police said the active shooter situation ended hours after the gunfire erupted in one part of the city before ending up near a veterinary hospital and other businesses.
—Jeffrey Collins, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Today, Mina said, OPD and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office conduct active shooter trainings annually, far more frequently than prior to Pulse.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026
One victim was killed and at least 10 were injured in Friday’s active shooter incident, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for active shooter
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 13 June 2026
Midland police said the active shooter situation ended hours after the gunfire erupted in one part of the city before ending up near a veterinary hospital and other businesses.
—Jeffrey Collins, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Today, Mina said, OPD and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office conduct active shooter trainings annually, far more frequently than prior to Pulse.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026
One victim was killed and at least 10 were injured in Friday’s active shooter incident, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 June 2026
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 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
