launch vehicle

noun

: a rocket used to launch a satellite or spacecraft

Examples of launch vehicle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The agency is continuing to work with international authorities to formally confirm which country and launch vehicle the debris originated from, and is urging people to stay away from further space balls. — Sophie Ziedalski, NBC news, 10 July 2026

Moving into operational phase … The new contract for the operational phase starts at the end of 2026 and marks the largest to date in the history of Beyond Gravity’s Swiss launch vehicle business. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026

The missile will work with the Army’s upgraded M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), allowing the service to field the new capability without modifying its existing launch vehicles. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 July 2026

Standing at 322 feet tall, the New Glenn rocket is a heavy-lift launch vehicle designed to transport a variety of commercial and civil payloads – such assatellites – to orbit. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 8 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1960, in the meaning defined above