slingshot

noun

sling·​shot ˈsliŋ-ˌshät How to pronounce slingshot (audio)
1
: a forked stick with an elastic band attached for shooting small stones
2
a
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
What gave weight to the slingshot, in this case, were two realities. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2026 The mission so far Artemis II is more than halfway through its slingshot mission around the moon and back. — Brendan Byrne, NPR, 6 Apr. 2026 The suitcase’s contents ranged from meeting notes and a list of ways to antagonize targets (from the use of lizards and snakes to slingshots) to membership lists and charters. — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 30 Mar. 2026 Psyche used Martian gravity like a slingshot to gain enough speed to reshape its orbit around the Sun, putting the probe on a path to intercept its asteroid target. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for slingshot

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of slingshot was in 1849

Rhymes for slingshot

See All Rhymes for slingshot

Browse Nearby Words

slings and arrows
slingshot
slingsman
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slingshot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slingshot. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

slingshot

noun
sling·​shot ˈsliŋ-ˌshät How to pronounce slingshot (audio)
: a forked stick with an elastic band attached for shooting small stones

More from Merriam-Webster on slingshot

Nglish: Translation of slingshot for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about slingshot

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