interceptor

noun

in·​ter·​cep·​tor ˌin-tər-ˈsep-tər How to pronounce interceptor (audio)
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
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That number is expected to grow and will eventually account for the cost of restocking the Pentagon’s missiles and interceptors, not to mention potential extended deployments of American service members in the region. Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026 Eventually, the gap between a fifty-thousand-dollar drone and a three-million-dollar interceptor becomes important; there were reports, this past weekend, that Israel had begun to run low on interceptors. Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2026 Octopus drones and naval options under review Alongside minesweeping systems, British planners are also studying the use of Octopus interceptor drones to defend ships from aerial attacks. Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 16 Mar. 2026 An image shared by the Israeli National Fire and Rescue Authority shows what the agency said was a large missile interceptor fragment that hit a residential building in the Silwan neighborhood of East Jerusalem, March 16, 2026. CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for interceptor

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of interceptor was in 1598

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Cite this Entry

“Interceptor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interceptor. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

interceptor

noun
in·​ter·​cep·​tor ˌint-ər-ˈsep-tər How to pronounce interceptor (audio)
: one that intercepts
especially : a fast fighter plane designed for defense against bombers

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