{ "_id":ObjectId("562e7c594c12942f08fe4192"), "shapes":[ { "shape":"square", "color":"blue" }, { "shape":"circle", "color":"red" } ] }, { "_id":ObjectId("562e7c594c12942f08fe4193"), "shapes":[ { "shape":"square", "color":"black" }, { "shape":"circle", "color":"green" } ] } db.test.find({"shapes.color": "red"}, {_id: 0, 'shapes.$': 1});