sharpshooter

noun

sharp·​shoot·​er ˈshärp-ˌshü-tər How to pronounce sharpshooter (audio)
plural sharpshooters
1
: a person who is highly skilled in shooting a weapon (such as a rifle) at a mark or target
a police sharpshooter
Determined to prevent any attempt on Lincoln's life, General Winfield Scott had placed sharpshooters on the roofs of buildings along the avenue …David Herbert Donald
2
sports : a consistently accurate shooter (as in basketball)
A 6' 9" sharpshooter who several NBA scouts predict will be a first-round pick …Tim Crothers
3
: any of various large leafhoppers that have powerful hind legs with spines on the tibia
The sharpshooter uses a needlelike mouthpart to suck fluids from trees and plants. As it goes from one to the next, it spreads diseases that can wipe out orange groves and other crops.Carl Zimmer
In Temecula, disease-carrying sharpshooters have turned some vineyards into wastelands.Steve Schmidt

Examples of sharpshooter in a Sentence

the police stationed sharpshooters on rooftops all along the route of the presidential motorcade
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The big question is whether Houston sharpshooter Sharp will play. KU’s path to victory starts with high-energy effort and trying to get big man Hunter Dickinson going early. Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 25 Jan. 2025 Dublin’s Cameron Anderson totaled 12 points, guard Miles Pollard had nine and sharpshooter Jordan Morganstein finished with eight. Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2025 Redick, a sharpshooter who logged 15 seasons in the NBA, never played for McMillan or Brooks. Jason Quick, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025 The senior sharpshooter Kelly has consecutive games with four 3s. Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for sharpshooter 

Word History

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sharpshooter was in 1794

Dictionary Entries Near sharpshooter

Cite this Entry

“Sharpshooter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sharpshooter. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

sharpshooter

noun
sharp·​shoot·​er ˈshärp-ˌshüt-ər How to pronounce sharpshooter (audio)
: one skilled in shooting : a good marksman
sharpshooting
-ˌshüt-iŋ
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sharpshooter

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!