missile

adjective mis·sile \ ˈmi-səl , chiefly British -ˌsīl \

|Updated on: 11 Aug 2018

Definition of missile

1 : capable of being thrown or projected to strike a distant object

2 : adapted for throwing or hurling missiles

Recent Examples of missile from the Web

Missile launches and nuclear tests are banned by the U.N. Security Council, but North Korea has paid no attention to its resolutions.

— the washington post, OregonLive.com, "Trump: 'All options are on the table' after North Korea missile launch," 29 Aug. 2017
Missile launches and nuclear tests are banned by the U.N. Security Council, but North Korea has paid no attention to its resolutions.

— john wagner, Washington Post, "Trump: ‘All options are on the table’ after North Korea launched missile over Japan," 29 Aug. 2017
Missile experts say the North’s shift to solids came as a surprise.

— david e. sanger and william j. broad, New York Times, "North Korean Tests Add Urgency for U.S. to Fix Defense Flaws," 29 May 2017
Missile experts haven't identified the four intermediate-range missiles that landed on Monday off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, about 620 miles from its...

— jonathan cheng, WSJ, "North Korea Missile Test Stirs ICBM Fears," 7 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'missile.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of missile

Latin missilis, from mittere to throw, send

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1610

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

missile

noun

Definition of missile

: an object (such as a weapon) thrown or projected usually so as to strike something at a distance

stones, artillery shells, bullets, and rockets are missiles

: such as

a : guided missile

b : ballistic missile

See missile defined for English-language learners

See missile defined for kids

Recent Examples of missile from the Web

The delegation also participated in an emergency drill at Rambam hospital that prepares the hospital for times of massive missile attacks.

— eliana rudee, Jewish Journal, "U.S. senior police and public-safety officials boost skills in Israel," 10 July 2018
Last year, Beijing destroyed Korean retailer Lotte’s business in China after the company sold land in South Korea to the Seoul government for an anti-missile system opposed by Chinese leaders.

— San Antonio Express-News, "China’s options to hit US go beyond imports," 9 July 2018
To date, Kim has halted nuclear and missile tests and has destroyed tunnels at the North’s nuclear test site, but the authoritarian nation has yet to take concrete steps toward abandoning its weapons programs.

— deb riechmann, The Seattle Times, "Experts see risks in US plan to dismantle NKorea’s nukes," 2 July 2018
Kaesong, a special administrative region in North Korea, was created in 2002 as part of an economic thaw and closed in 2016 in response to the North’s continued missile tests.

— david volodzko, The New Republic, "The Corporate Gangs Who Could Profit From Trade With North Korea," 26 June 2018
Kim can launch another missile test and make Trump look like a dupe.

— frank rich, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump’s Summit Spectacle Was Just a Momentary Distraction From His Bigger Problems," 13 June 2018
Israel has released video showing of the missile attack.

— amir vahdat, chicagotribune.com, "Iran cleric threatens destruction of two Israeli cities if Jewish state 'acts foolishly'," 11 May 2018
More strikingly, on April 20th Mr Kim declared an end to all nuclear and long-range missile tests.

— The Economist, "North Korea’s despot has one goal: survival," 26 Apr. 2018
There's a missile launch to investigate and mysterious rifts appearing over the map.

— alyssa newcomb and peter maguire /, NBC News, "Video game 'Fortnite' is raking in millions and taking over the real world," 12 July 2018

First Known Use of missile

circa 1656

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

MISSILE Defined for English Language Learners

missile

noun

Definition of missile for English Language Learners

: an object that is thrown, shot, or launched as a weapon; especially : a rocket that explodes when it hits a distant target

MISSILE Defined for Kids

missile

noun mis·sile \ ˈmi-səl \

Definition of missile for Students

: an object (as a stone, arrow, bullet, or rocket) that is dropped, thrown, shot, or launched usually so as to strike something at a distance

Word Root of missile

The Latin word mittere, meaning “to send,” and its form missus give us the roots mit and miss. Words from the Latin mittere have something to do with sending. A missile is an object, such as a bullet, arrow, or rocket, that is sent through the air so as to hit a target. To emit is to send forth or give out. To omit, or leave out, is to send away so as to not be included. To permit, or allow, is to send something through without stopping it.