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 On Friday, the Biden administration accused Iran of preparing to expand its military cooperation with Russia by providing Moscow with advanced ballistic missiles to use in Ukraine. Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 After only a month and heavy losses among its warplanes, Russia stopped flying its aircraft beyond the front lines, RUSI said in a report, turning instead to launching barrages of cruise and ballistic missiles from afar. Constant Méheut, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Today, Russia only fields 11 ballistic missile submarines. Craig Hooper, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The Biden administration is working toward providing Ukraine with new long-range ballistic missiles, according to two U.S. officials. Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 19 Feb. 2024 The launch comes just two days after South Korea's First Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo said that North Korea could fire an intercontinental ballistic missile within the month. Stepheny Price, Fox News, 14 Feb. 2024 Hezbollah constantly threatens Israel’s northern border, while Hamas receives weapons from Syria through Jordan, Syrian and Iraqi militias attack U.S. assets in the Levant, and the Houthis attack international shipping and launch ballistic missiles at Israel. Seth Cropsey, National Review, 10 Feb. 2024 Iran, meanwhile, has delivered to Russia a large number of powerful surface-to-surface ballistic missiles and drones. Ukraine, meanwhile, is dependent on foreign military equipment. Tara Sonenshine, The Conversation, 26 Feb. 2024 The strikes were the largest salvo since the allies struck Houthi targets on Feb. 3 and came after a week in which the Houthis have launched attack drones and cruise and ballistic missiles at vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ballistic missile.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ballistic missile was in 1950

Dictionary Entries Near ballistic missile

Cite this Entry

“Ballistic missile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ballistic%20missile. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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

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