A markswoman is a woman who is highly skilled at shooting accurately with guns or other projectile weapons. The word comes from hitting a “mark” or target, and a markswoman can consistently hit what she aims at, whether that's a bullseye on a paper target, a clay disk flying through the air, or a distant object.

Historically, markswomen have competed in shooting sports, served in military roles, and performed in Wild West shows. Annie Oakley, one of the most famous markswomen in American history, could shoot a dime tossed in the air and hit playing cards edge-on from 90 feet away. Her incredible skill made her a star performer in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show in the 1880s.

Today, markswomen compete in Olympic shooting events, biathlon competitions (which combine cross-country skiing and rifle shooting), and various other shooting sports. Police sharpshooters and military snipers can be markswomen. The word emphasizes exceptional accuracy and consistent skill: a markswoman doesn't merely fire a weapon; she hits her target with precision again and again.

The male equivalent is marksman, though in modern usage, marksman sometimes refers to shooters of any gender. When you want to specifically highlight a woman's shooting expertise, markswoman is the precise term.