gunshot: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1neutral, journalistic, formal
Quick answer
What does “gunshot” mean?
The sound made when a gun is fired.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The sound made when a gun is fired.
1. The bullets fired from a gun. 2. The act or instance of firing a gun. 3. The range or reach of a gun's bullets.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or meaning differences. The term 'gunfire' is more common than 'gunshots' for sustained shooting in both varieties, but 'gunshot' for a single instance is equally standard.
Connotations
In both varieties, it strongly connotes violence, crime, or warfare. In American English, it may more frequently appear in public discourse around gun violence.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to media coverage of shootings, but the word itself is equally standard in both.
Grammar
How to Use “gunshot” in a Sentence
Within (gunshot) of [place]A gunshot rang out[Person] heard a gunshot[Person] was wounded by a gunshotVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gunshot” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- He suffered a gunshot wound to the leg.
- The police found gunshot residue on his hands.
American English
- She was treated for a gunshot injury.
- The forensics team analyzed the gunshot damage.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in security reports: 'The incident near the warehouse involved several gunshots.'
Academic
Used in criminology, forensic science, medical, and historical texts: 'The study analysed gunshot residue patterns.'
Everyday
Common in news reports and personal accounts of incidents: 'We heard a gunshot and called the police.'
Technical
Forensic medicine ('gunshot wound'), ballistics ('gunshot acoustics'), audio forensics.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gunshot”
- Using 'gunshot' as a verb (incorrect: *He gunshot the target; correct: He shot the target).
- Confusing 'gunshot' (countable, for individual sounds/acts) with 'gunfire' (usually uncountable, for sustained shooting).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Gunshot' typically refers to the sound or instance of a single shot. 'Gunfire' refers to the repeated or sustained firing of guns, often in a battle or extended shootout.
No, 'gunshot' is a noun or a compound adjective (e.g., gunshot wound). The verb is 'to shoot'.
It's somewhat literary or dated. 'Within gunshot range' or simply 'within range' is more common in modern usage to mean close enough to be hit by a bullet.
This is an archaic or folk variant of 'shotgun wedding', meaning a wedding forced due to pregnancy. 'Shotgun wedding' is the standard form.
The sound made when a gun is fired.
Gunshot is usually neutral, journalistic, formal in register.
Gunshot: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡʌn.ʃɒt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡʌn.ʃɑːt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “within gunshot (range)”
- “like a gunshot (very fast)”
- “gunshot wedding (archaic/variant of shotgun wedding)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the two parts: GUN (the weapon) + SHOT (the act of firing or the sound it makes). A gun's shot is a gunshot.
Conceptual Metaphor
VIOLENCE IS SOUND / DANGER IS A PROJECTILE (e.g., 'The news hit him like a gunshot').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'gunshot' LEAST likely to be used?