# hotshot

/ˈhɑˌʃɑt/ (US) · /hˈɒtʃɒt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hotshot
Updated: 2026-10-13

## Definition

someone who is very successful or talented and knows it. You use this for a person who is confident and perhaps a bit showy about their skills.

For teachers: a person who is conspicuously successful, talented, or influential, often in a way that suggests arrogance.

## Examples

- The new hotshot in the office thinks he can fix everything.
- The team signed a young hotshot from the minor leagues who immediately started breaking records.
- Despite his reputation as a corporate hotshot, he found that navigating the nuanced politics of the executive board required more than just raw ambition.

## Usage notes

- Often used with a slightly critical or mocking tone to suggest the person is overconfident.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.