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

Instead, officials refocused the strategic narrative on their ambitions to degrade Iran's conventional military – especially ballistic missile – and nuclear programs. —David Brennan, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026

By March 10, General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was saying Iranian ballistic missile attacks had fallen 90 percent from day one and one-way drone attacks 83 percent, while more than 50 Iranian naval vessels had been hit in the opening stage of the war. —Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026

Meanwhile an Iranian ballistic missile targeting Israel was intercepted Monday. —Tim Lister, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026

Pyongyang still faces major technical barriers before fielding a fully reliable intercontinental ballistic missile, especially ensuring a warhead can survive atmospheric reentry. —Eric MacK, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 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