launch vehicle

noun

: a rocket used to launch a satellite or spacecraft

Examples of launch vehicle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The county has contributed astronauts, launch vehicles and academic knowledge that have fueled missions spanning thousands of miles across space and many decades across history. Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026 The Artemis launch vehicle, in turn, was based on Constellation’s Ares V design, and its booster rockets were an innovation of the Space Shuttle era. David W. Brown, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026 These factors include temperature, wind, cloud cover and the overall health of the launch vehicle. Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026 But military experts said Iran may have used its space launch vehicle for an improvised firing. Arkansas Online, 22 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for launch vehicle

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1960, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of launch vehicle was circa 1960

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Cite this Entry

“Launch vehicle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/launch%20vehicle. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.

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