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

Ukrainian authorities initially reported Russia had fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), while Moscow described the missile as a hypersonic, intermediate-range weapon. —Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025

Iran previously launched a ballistic missile strike on an Iraqi airbase hosting U.S. troops in January 2020 following the assassination of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike ordered by Trump near the end of his first term. —Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025

Beyond simply cash, this might be advanced weaponry and technological expertise to help North Korea perfect satellite, submarine, and re-entry technology for its ballistic missiles. —Charlie Campbell, Time, 29 May 2025

Ukrainian officials said one person was killed and more than two dozen people were injured by ballistic missile strikes across the country overnight. —Astha Rajvanshi, NBC news, 28 May 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