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

North Korea’s ballistic missile launch on Sunday underscored that assessment. —J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 4 Jan. 2026

North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters Sunday, according to South Korean officials. —CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026

With its higher precision, the system can better tell the difference between something dangerous (like an intercontinental ballistic missile) and things that aren't dangerous (like debris). —Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 1 Jan. 2026

Iranian officials claim the satellites are intended for civilian purposes, including environmental monitoring and agriculture, though Western governments have long warned that Iran’s space program could advance technologies applicable to ballistic missile development. —Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 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