ENGLISH
REFERENCE

sniper

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈsnaɪpɝ// UK //snˈaɪpɐ// sniper Slang

n. a person who shoots a gun from a hidden place, usually from far away. They are very skilled at hitting a specific target without being seen.

n. a person who shoots from a concealed position, typically at long range and with high precision. Often used in military or law enforcement contexts to describe a specialist marksman.


SIMPLE

The sniper hid on the roof of the tall building.

CONTEXTUAL

The police called in a sniper to monitor the situation from a safe distance during the standoff.

COMPLEX

Modern military doctrine treats the sniper not just as a marksman, but as a vital reconnaissance asset capable of providing real-time intelligence while remaining entirely undetected by enemy forces.

Origin

From snipe + -er.

Usage

Commonly used in military contexts; can also be used metaphorically in sports or gaming to describe someone who strikes from a distance.

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