interceptor

noun

in·​ter·​cep·​tor ˌin-tər-ˈsep-tər 

variants or less commonly intercepter

: one that intercepts

specifically : a light high-speed fast-climbing fighter plane or missile designed for defense against raiding bombers or missiles

Examples of interceptor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lockheed Martin, a defense contractor, previously made about a hundred interceptors a year, each of which cost close to thirteen million dollars. —Garrett M. Graff, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2026

These interceptors are aimed at Group 1 and Group 2 unmanned aerial systems and are launched from compact pods that can carry multiple missiles. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Apr. 2026

Those figures are likely to ramp up further as Gulf states look to rebuild depleted stocks of interceptors and accelerate the development of local military industrial bases. —Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026

Defense Secretary John Healey announced the deal at a conference in London on Friday, saying that the company would provide hundreds of its Skyhammer interceptors within weeks. —Mark Bergen, Bloomberg, 10 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for interceptor

• baroreceptor
• chemoreceptor
• acceptor
• preceptor
• receptor
• adrenoceptor
• photoreceptor
• scepter
• sceptre

Kids Definition

interceptor

noun

in·​ter·​cep·​tor ˌint-ər-ˈsep-tər 

: one that intercepts

especially : a fast fighter plane designed for defense against bombers