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

Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines offer another important reference point. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026

Ukraine is facing an acute shortage of interceptors to shoot down incoming Russian ballistic missiles. — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2026

The hundreds of millions of dollars in proceeds are then used to fund North Korea's weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. — Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026

Less than two weeks after the mines exploded, the North fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile more than 700 kilometers. — Dan Blumenthal, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ballistic missile

• abyssal
• dismissal
• epistle
• bristle
• fissile
• gristle
• missal
• nissl
• thistle
• whistle

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