1 slingshot | Definition of slingshot

slingshot

noun
sling·​shot | \ ˈsliƋ-ˌshĂ€t How to pronounce slingshot (audio) \

Definition of slingshot

1 : a forked stick with an elastic band attached for shooting small stones
2a : a maneuver in auto racing in which a drafting car accelerates past the car in front by taking advantage of reserve power
b : a dragster in which the driver sits behind the rear wheels

Examples of slingshot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That lasted until 2004, when a high school boy with a slingshot shattered some of the panes. Washington Post, "‘Miracle house’ in Ohio draws pilgrims amid sainthood push," 18 Aug. 2019 Stalking into range and taking a sitting bird with a .22 rimfire, an arrow or even a slingshot, instantaneously, is putting meat on the table. Steve Meyer, Anchorage Daily News, "Well-heeled Brits have the ‘Glorious Twelfth,’ but Alaska bird hunters have it better," 14 Aug. 2019 One quickly devolved after protesters used what appeared to be a long, homemade slingshot to hurl rocks and bricks at a police station. Yanan Wang, The Christian Science Monitor, "Why Hong Kong protests ebb and flow, like water," 5 Aug. 2019 On Friday, police said, officers raided an industrial building and seized about 2 pounds of powerful explosives, 10 gasoline bombs and nitric acid, as well as bullets, slingshots, knives and metal rods. Mike Ives, BostonGlobe.com, "Police fire tear gas and rubber bullets in Hong Kong as protesters target Chinese office," 21 July 2019 Caleb McLaughlin - Lucas Sinclair Lucas is back and so is his slingshot. Jasmine Gomez, Seventeen, "Pictures of the “Stranger Things” Cast Then and Now Will Make You Feel So Damn Old," 10 July 2019 In order to save fuel, India is using a circuitous route relying on the slingshot effect of the Earth's gravity. John Bacon, USA TODAY, "India launches 'historic' flight bound for the moon," 22 July 2019 Briney and another high-level employee fired steel-ball slingshots at wildlife from the back porch of the PSPRS office. Craig Harris, azcentral, "State recommends PSPRS administrator Smout be fired for sexual harassment," 15 July 2019 Mickey dreams up a thing called the slingshot dragster—a quarter-miler with the driver seated behind the rear axle for better traction. Mark Mahaney, Smithsonian, "Danny Thompson’s Blazing Nitromethane-Fueled Pursuit of Racing Glory," 10 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'slingshot.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of slingshot

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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More Definitions for slingshot

slingshot

noun

English Language Learners Definition of slingshot

US : a Y-shaped stick with an elastic band attached to it that is used for shooting small stones

slingshot

noun
sling·​shot | \ ˈsliƋ-ˌshĂ€t How to pronounce slingshot (audio) \

Kids Definition of slingshot

: a forked stick with an elastic band attached for shooting small stones

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about slingshot