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 New York Times reports on Florida startup Powerus, whose Guardian interceptor is designed to destroy Iranian drones without resorting to multimillion-dollar missiles. — Inzamam Rashid, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026

The hybrid meeting, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also participating, follows President Macron's announcement that France would provide additional interceptor missiles to Kyiv. — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026

The firm has provided training, components, and software to assemble its Guardian interceptor to an Emirati contractor, The New York Times reported. — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Kyiv urgently needs more interceptors before winter, when Russia routinely bombards its power grid, but the demands of the Iran war and slow output of the sophisticated interceptors have left Ukraine short and vulnerable. — Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for interceptor

• chemoreceptor
• acceptor
• preceptor
• receptor
• adrenoceptor
• baroreceptor
• 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