1
: a light spear thrown as a weapon of war or in hunting
2
a
: a slender usually metal shaft at least 260 centimeters long that is thrown for distance in an athletic field event
b
or javelin throw
: an athletic field event in which a javelin is thrown for distance
won the gold medal in the javelin
… Serene Ross, who set her second American record in three weeks in the javelin throw in winning at 197 feet.—
Frank Litsky
Frank Litsky
Examples of javelin in a Sentence
from atop his horse the warrior hurled a javelin that pierced the chest of his hapless foe
Recent Examples on the Web
Yamamoto’s javelin throwing has become a source of some lighthearted humor.
—Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2024
Yada’s training program includes a javelin and miniature soccer balls but no weights.
—Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024
This supplemental unlocks $6 billion for our sub capacity to build subs, $5 billion to produce 155 millimeter howitzer rounds, and everything in between, javelins, stingers, tomahawks.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2024
Do soldiers have javelins, slings, light armor or heavy armor?
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 25 Jan. 2024
Yamamoto stands out from the crowd for his unique routine as well – starting with throwing a javelin to build arm strength.
—Bill Plunkett, Orange County Register, 11 Feb. 2024
Maria had told us how the cove would have filled with the canoes of the next tribe over, the warriors tattooed head to toe and carrying javelins.
—Peter Heller, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Jan. 2024
It likely would have been thrown like a modern day javelin.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 19 July 2023
The flagpole bearing the Stars and Stripes sticks out of the ground at a precipitous angle, like a javelin that made a bad landing.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 28 June 2023
Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2024
Yada’s training program includes a javelin and miniature soccer balls but no weights.
—Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024
This supplemental unlocks $6 billion for our sub capacity to build subs, $5 billion to produce 155 millimeter howitzer rounds, and everything in between, javelins, stingers, tomahawks.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2024
Do soldiers have javelins, slings, light armor or heavy armor?
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 25 Jan. 2024
Yamamoto stands out from the crowd for his unique routine as well – starting with throwing a javelin to build arm strength.
—Bill Plunkett, Orange County Register, 11 Feb. 2024
Maria had told us how the cove would have filled with the canoes of the next tribe over, the warriors tattooed head to toe and carrying javelins.
—Peter Heller, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Jan. 2024
It likely would have been thrown like a modern day javelin.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 19 July 2023
The flagpole bearing the Stars and Stripes sticks out of the ground at a precipitous angle, like a javelin that made a bad landing.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 28 June 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'javelin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near javelin
Cite this Entry
“Javelin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/javelin. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
javelin
noun
jav·e·lin
ˈjav-(ə-)lən 
1
: a light spear
2
: a slender usually metal shaft that is thrown for distance in a track-and-field event
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