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
Earlier this year, its clergy and staff underwent active shooter prevention and preparedness training, according to a post on Temple Israel's Facebook page.
—Arkansas Online, 14 Mar. 2026
Employees at the synagogue had taken an active shooter prevention training class just weeks earlier, and the building had bollards placed around it in an attempt to slow a ramming attack.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 14 Mar. 2026
And in January, Temple Israel's staff and clergy participated in an active shooter prevention and preparedness training lead by an FBI official, according to the synagogue's social media accounts.
—ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
On occasion, police or dispatchers receive reports of active shooters, but investigations show that shots were not involved.
—Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for active shooter
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Arkansas Online, 14 Mar. 2026
Employees at the synagogue had taken an active shooter prevention training class just weeks earlier, and the building had bollards placed around it in an attempt to slow a ramming attack.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 14 Mar. 2026
And in January, Temple Israel's staff and clergy participated in an active shooter prevention and preparedness training lead by an FBI official, according to the synagogue's social media accounts.
—ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
On occasion, police or dispatchers receive reports of active shooters, but investigations show that shots were not involved.
—Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 14 Mar. 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 18 Mar. 2026.
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