launchpad

noun

launch·​pad ˈlȯnch-ˌpad 

ˈlänch-

variants or launch pad or less commonly launching pad

plural launchpads or launch pads also launching pads

1

: a nonflammable platform from which a rocket (such as a missile or a launch vehicle) can be launched

… a launchpad for smallish research rockets …

—David Quammen

… engineers weren't able to immediately troubleshoot the issue. Eventually the capsule had to be rolled back from the launch pad.

—AirGuide Business

It [an unmanned aircraft] requires no infrastructure, such as runways, launching pads or recovery devices.

—Sam Davis

(figurative) Keep tree branches pruned back at least 4 feet from the nearest adjacent tree or structure—8 feet if the squirrel's potential launchpad (including power lines) is higher than the tree.

—Sunset Magazine

2

: something (such as a place or event) that is suitable or favorable for growth, development, etc : springboard

… the [book's] extensive references provide a good launchpad for additional research.

—Daniel Grassam

Success at the Olympic Games has long been the launch pad for a professional career …

—Gareth A Davies

Another function of the farmers' market within the town is serving as a launching pad for new businesses.

—Danielle Sottosanti

Examples of launchpad in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The only way to answer these questions is through systematic audits and a clear paper trail—this was the launchpad for our study. —Chara Podimata, Time, 21 Nov. 2025

This is the foundation that propels Basamh Group toward the future, making legacy a true launchpad for what comes next. —CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025

At this year’s CIIE, Crocs™ once again demonstrated how China has become a launchpad for global innovation and emotional storytelling. —Footwear News, 14 Nov. 2025

Tech has become a launchpad for founders to quickly gain 10-figure net worths, with the likes of Scale AI’s Lucy Guo and Alexandr Wang skyrocketing to billionaire status just a handful of years after creating their innovations. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 3 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1957, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

launchpad

noun

launch·​pad ˈlȯnch-ˌpad 

ˈlänch-

: a nonflammable platform from which a rocket can be launched

called also launching pad