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
The Israeli source confirmed a report by Axios that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the Israel Defense Forces to send an Iron Dome battery to the UAE, along with interceptor crews, following a call with Emirati President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed.
—
Max Saltman, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
The Iran war has also diminished existing stocks of US missile interceptors, which the Pentagon plans to integrate with Golden Dome to form ground, sea, and airborne layers to go along with the space layer in low-Earth orbit.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 25 Apr. 2026
Only the White House has, so far, been inexplicably unwilling to take advantage of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s offer to share technology and testing grounds — along with the immediate sale of drones and drone interceptors to the Pentagon.
—Trudy Rubin, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
The interceptors, which are designed to destroy enemy missiles outside the Earth’s atmosphere, are a key but unproven component of Golden Dome.
—Anthony Capaccio, Bloomberg, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for interceptor
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Max Saltman, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
The Iran war has also diminished existing stocks of US missile interceptors, which the Pentagon plans to integrate with Golden Dome to form ground, sea, and airborne layers to go along with the space layer in low-Earth orbit.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 25 Apr. 2026
Only the White House has, so far, been inexplicably unwilling to take advantage of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s offer to share technology and testing grounds — along with the immediate sale of drones and drone interceptors to the Pentagon.
—Trudy Rubin, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
The interceptors, which are designed to destroy enemy missiles outside the Earth’s atmosphere, are a key but unproven component of Golden Dome.
—Anthony Capaccio, Bloomberg, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for interceptor
Cite this Entry
“Interceptor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interceptor. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
interceptor
noun
in·ter·cep·tor
ˌint-ər-ˈsep-tər
: one that intercepts
especially
: a fast fighter plane designed for defense against bombers
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