# shotgun

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈʃɒtɡʌn/ · frequency rank #9,537

## Definitions
1. A gun which fires loads typically consisting of small metal balls, called shot, from a cartridge.
2. The front passenger seat in a vehicle, next to the driver; so called because the position of the shotgun-armed guard on a horse-drawn stage-coach, wagon train, or gold transport was next to the driver on a forward-mounted bench seat. Can also be used in situations of claiming other resources such as bedrooms.
3. A one-story dwelling with no hallways or corridors, with the rooms arranged in a straight line.
4. An offensive formation in which the quarterback receives the snap at a distance behind the center, often with a running back set to one or both sides of him.
5. Relating to shotguns, either in a present or past sense.
6. Relating to the threat of force or dubious means.
7. Relating to the use of numerous, diverse or indiscriminate means to achieve a particular result.

## Etymology
From shot + gun. Front passenger seat sense comes from ride shotgun.

## Easily confused with
- **shogun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shogun-vs-shotgun)

## Common misspellings (11)
`hsotgun`, `shhotgun`, `shogtun`, `shotggun`, `shotgnu`, `shotgunn`, `shottgun`, `shotugn`, `shtogun`, `sohtgun`, `sshotgun`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/shotgun