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
active shooter drills

Examples of active shooter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web An emergency alert was sent to residents' phones Wednesday morning, warning people of an active shooter at the middle school. Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 2 May 2024 The state Department of Justice suggests a drill could include a lockdown procedure for an active shooter situation, or reunification of students and families after an event. Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 2 May 2024 An active shooter was reported outside a Wisconsin middle school Wednesday, school officials said. Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 1 May 2024 After the 1999 massacre, states enacted lockdown and active shooter drills, according to a report from the Federal School Safety Commission. Kerry Breen, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2024 Research by the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund and the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Social Dynamics and Wellbeing Lab suggests an association between active shooter drills and increases in depression, stress and anxiety among students, parents and teachers. USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024 The conversation on a recent night turned to active shooter drills, because a few of our kids had just gone through one at each of their schools. Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024 Exactly one year ago, Doral police officers participated in an extensive training session for a mass casualty active shooter drill at the same establishment where the shooting occurred, Lopez said. Sarah Dewberry, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024 Controlling active shooter simulations House Enrolled Act 1104 requires schools to provide accommodations for students during active shooter drills, such as prohibiting the use of simulation gunfire, prop firearms, simulation of gunshot wounds or requiring student participation. Caroline Beck, The Indianapolis Star, 14 Mar. 2024

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.

Word History

First Known Use

1999, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of active shooter was in 1999

Dictionary Entries Near active shooter

Cite this Entry

“Active shooter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/active%20shooter. Accessed 8 May. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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