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

Meanwhile, North Korea has also ramped up its weapons program in the past few years, rapidly modernizing its armed forces, developing new weapons and testing intercontinental ballistic missiles. —Catherine Nicholls, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Kim has made Russia the priority of his foreign policy, sending thousands of troops and large shipments of weapons, including artillery and ballistic missiles, to help fuel Putin’s war. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un displayed a new long-range intercontinental ballistic missile at a military parade in Pyongyang that included foreign leaders on Friday. —Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025

When a ballistic missile enters American airspace, officers and officials scramble to avert disaster in this thriller directed by Kathryn Bigelow. —The New York Times, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025

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