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

Kyiv — Russia has launched one of its largest ballistic missile attacks against Ukraine since launching its full-scale invasion more than four years ago. — Daria Tarasova-Markina, CNN Money, 19 July 2026

Russia has launched several large-scale attacks on Kyiv in recent weeks as Ukraine faces a shortage of Patriot air defense missiles, which are its most effective means of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles. — ABC News, 19 July 2026

While Kyiv has made significant progress since 2022 in defending itself against Russian missile and drone attacks, the country remains extremely vulnerable to ballistic missile strikes. — Ihor N. Stelmach, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026

The military said that the two service members who were killed died while defending against an Iranian ballistic missile and drone attack. — Gordon Lubold, NBC news, 19 July 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