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
Shielding the identities of school guardians: Following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting in 2018, Florida created a program that allows some school staff members and classroom teachers to be armed to try to protect students from active shooters.
—Gabriela Henriquez Stoikow, Orlando Sentinel, 30 June 2024
The legislation bans loud sounds that mimic gunfire or explosions, individuals role-playing as active shooters or victims and other similar activities that may be traumatic for students and staff.
—Kiersten Hacker, Baltimore Sun, 28 June 2024
And while the number of shootings slightly decreased between 2022 and 2023, the total rates of active shooter events remained elevated compared to past periods.
—Robert Legare, CBS News, 24 June 2024
Mitchell was responding to shots fired and an active shooter at an apartment complex on Blaisdell Avenue South.
—Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 8 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for active shooter 
Gabriela Henriquez Stoikow, Orlando Sentinel, 30 June 2024
The legislation bans loud sounds that mimic gunfire or explosions, individuals role-playing as active shooters or victims and other similar activities that may be traumatic for students and staff.
—Kiersten Hacker, Baltimore Sun, 28 June 2024
And while the number of shootings slightly decreased between 2022 and 2023, the total rates of active shooter events remained elevated compared to past periods.
—Robert Legare, CBS News, 24 June 2024
Mitchell was responding to shots fired and an active shooter at an apartment complex on Blaisdell Avenue South.
—Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 8 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for active shooter
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'active shooter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Active shooter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/active%20shooter. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
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