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
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.
The United States sent a bomber to Northeast Asia for a trilateral aerial exercise with its allies on Sunday, following North Korea's test launch of a new nuclear ballistic missile. David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024 Last week, North Korea test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile designed to attack the U.S. mainland for the first time in almost a year. Hyung-Jin Kim and Kim Tong-Hyung, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024 The military moves come as Israel's wars with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon rage, including a retaliatory strike on Iran a week ago that likely damaged a base that builds ballistic missiles and launches rockets as part of Tehran's space program. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 2 Nov. 2024 Navy destroyers which carry ballistic missile defense systems may be sourced from either the Indo-Pacific region or Europe. Jasmine Baehr, Fox News, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ballistic missile 

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ballistic missile was in 1950

Dictionary Entries Near ballistic missile

Cite this Entry

“Ballistic missile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ballistic%20missile. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on ballistic missile

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!