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 When there is no rain, the sewers take wastewater to about 15 interceptors that run parallel to the Fox River, and run that wastewater to the Fox Metro treatment plant, where it is treated and released into the river. —

Steve Lord, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2023 The launchers are in transit while the interceptor missiles have arrived, says U.S. Army acquisition chief Doug Bush. —

Doug Cameron, WSJ, 8 Nov. 2023 The explosion and fireball erupted at the grounds of the hospital seven seconds after the apparent interceptor missile exploded in midair. —

Imogen Piper, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2023 And Iron Dome interceptor systems typically shoot down most of the rest. —

Michael J. Armstrong, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2023 Video shared on social media, which has not yet been verified by NBC News, appeared to show at least part of an Iron Dome interceptor plummeting down to the ground in a fiery explosion. —

NBC News, 7 Nov. 2023 Netanyahu asked Israelis to place inordinate faith in technology, such as the Iron Dome rocket interceptors developed with the United States, to minimize the damage from rocket fire. —

Ami Ayalon, Foreign Affairs, 31 Oct. 2023 The strike could have been caused by a different Israeli munition that causes a smaller impact, such as an errant interceptor fired by an air defense system or an artillery shell. —

Aaron Boxerman, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2023 But with Hamas and Hezbollah firing hundreds of rockets at Israeli military sites and cities every day, Israel’s stockpile of interceptor missiles is dwindling. —

Doug Cameron, WSJ, 23 Oct. 2023 See More

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