hotshot
/ˈhɒtˌʃɒt/adjective, noun, verb
hotshot is spelled H-O-T-S-H-O-T: 7 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 42,680th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, hotshot means “Highly skilled” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in hotshot?
| Letters | 7: H-O-T-S-H-O-T |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 42,680th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is hotshot?
Hotshot appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 42,680th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce hotshot?
- /ˈhɒtˌʃɒt/
Hotshot has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-au-hotshot.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with hotshot
Also written: hot-shot (one word or two).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of hotshot
- more hotshot comparative
- most hotshot superlative
- hot shot
- hot-shot
- hotshots plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- hotshotting participle, present
- hotshotted participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does hotshot mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
informalHighly skilled.
He was a hotshot lawyer, with an astounding win-loss record.
- 2
informalDisplaying talent.
Keep up those hotshot baskets, and the scouts are sure to take notice.
noun
- 1
informalSomeone with exceptional skills in a certain field.
She sure was a hotshot on the keyboard, 93 words per minute!
- 2
A type of firefighter highly skilled in wildfire firefighting without external support, using basic tools that are backpacked in and manhandled about.
- 3
USA portable device that is used to jump-start an automobile battery, or the electrical output of such a device.
- 4
USA fast freight train.
- 5
slangA dose of recreational drugs deliberately laced with poison.
- 6
A lethal injection of heroin or another opiate.
verb
- 1
slangTo give (somebody) a dose of recreational drugs deliberately laced with poison.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Hotshot in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense someone with exceptional skills in a certain field:
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does hotshot come from?
From hot + shot.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).