launch vehicle

noun

: a rocket used to launch a satellite or spacecraft

Examples of launch vehicle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
SpaceX has changed the launch vehicle paradigm by reusing rockets, which has made launches more affordable. — Euihyeon Choi, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026 Company using all launch vehicles available… The company’s network is a direct competitor to SpaceX’s plans to use its Starlink satellite network to deliver direct-to-cell connectivity. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026 Now, the section of the launch vehicle is projected to imminently crash into the moon's near side, which permanently faces Earth. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 30 July 2026 Reusable launch vehicles are lowering costs and transforming access to space, accelerating the growth of commercial markets. — Shelli Brunswick, Forbes.com, 29 July 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

Browse Nearby Words

launchpad
launch vehicle
launch window
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Launch vehicle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/launch%20vehicle. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on launch vehicle

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about launch vehicle

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