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

Earlier this week, at least 17 people were killed in Kyiv and surrounding areas as Russia fired more than two dozen ballistic missiles and anti-ship missiles – none of which were shot down. — Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026

Ukraine is very short of high-end air defenses, ​and Russia has tried to exploit this by using more ballistic missiles, which ‌are particularly hard to shoot ⁠down. — Reuters, NBC news, 9 Aug. 2026

Government lawyers have argued that the project — the biggest structural change to the White House in more than 70 years — includes critical security features to guard against a range of threats, such as drones, ballistic missiles and biohazards. — Michael Kunzelman, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026

At the same time, Ukraine is working on manufacturing its own ballistic missiles to use against Russia. — ABC News, 7 Aug. 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