Definition of interceptor
: one that intercepts; specifically : a light high-speed fast-climbing fighter plane or missile designed for defense against raiding bombers or missiles
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Recent Examples of interceptor from the Web
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Pyongyang is understood to be moving closer to the capability of putting a nuclear warhead on such an ICBM and could develop decoys sophisticated enough to trick an interceptor into missing the real warhead.
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Tuesday's test, an interceptor missile will be launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and attempt to intercept a simulated threat missile over the Pacific Ocean launched from Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
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The magazine reported that the interceptor has been used in Colorado and was under consideration for use in the Great Lakes and Mississippi River region.
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Progress by North Korea’s ruler Kim Jong Un toward developing a nuclear missile that can hit the U.S. mainland has focused new attention on the array of missile interceptors tipped with Raytheon Co. warheads based in California and Alaska.
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In Tuesday's U.S. test, the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency launched an interceptor rocket from an underground silo at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
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The interceptor system has been in place since 2004, but it has never been used in combat or fully tested.
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The interceptor system has been in place since 2004, but it has never been used in combat or fully tested.
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There currently are 32 interceptors in silos at Fort Greely in Alaska and four at Vandenberg, north of Los Angeles.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'interceptor'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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First Known Use of interceptor
1598
INTERCEPTOR Defined for English Language Learners
interceptor
playDefinition of interceptor for English Language Learners
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: a fast military plane or missile used to defend against enemy planes or enemy missiles
Learn More about interceptor
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Nglish: Translation of interceptor for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of interceptor for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about interceptor
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