ballistic missile

noun

plural ballistic missiles

: a usually rocket-powered missile that is launched in a high arc under guidance for its ascent but that is unpowered and unguided once it begins its descent compare cruise missile, guided missile

Examples of ballistic missile in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There has been on and off U.S.-Russia cooperation on trade, nuclear and ballistic missile treaties, fighting terrorism and more for decades. —Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2025

Three Air Force officials are calmly walking them through the steps to fire off intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). —Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Feb. 2025

Kim Jong Un Accuses US of Prolonging Ukraine War Zelensky Says North Korean Troops Have Returned to Fight in Kursk Russia voted in favor of Resolution 2397 in 2017 in response to North Korea's testing of intercontinental ballistic missiles. —Justin Gest, Newsweek, 10 Feb. 2025

One area where South Korea is eager to coordinate with the U.S. is North Korea, whose leader Kim Jong Un has been advancing his nuclear and ballistic missile programs and ratcheting up his hostile rhetoric against the U.S., South Korea and others. —Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 7 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ballistic missile

noun

: a missile that moves under its own power, is guided as it rises in a steeply curving path, and falls freely on the way back to earth