missile

1 of 2

adjective

mis·​sile ˈmi-səl 

chiefly British

-ˌsīl 

1

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

2

: adapted for throwing or hurling missiles

missile

2 of 2

noun

: 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

Examples of missile in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The militarization of space, expanded anti-missile defenses and the potential risks of AI could create additional instability. —Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 9 Jan. 2026

The militarization of space, expanded anti-missile defenses and the potential risks of AI could create additional instability. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026

Noun

Moscow has rebuilt Cold War-era bases, expanded Arctic military infrastructure, deployed advanced missile systems, and asserted control over polar shipping routes. —Paul McCarthy, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026

In practice, France holds the only truly independent nuclear arsenal in Europe, with Britain’s Trident nuclear missiles made and stored in the US, a fact British Prime Minister Kier Starmer said this week limits his hand vis-à-vis Washington. —Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 22 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin missilis, from mittere to throw, send

First Known Use

Adjective

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1656, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing missile

• antiballistic missile
• anti-missile
• ballistic missile
• cruise missile
• guided missile
• surface-to-air missile
• surface-to-surface missile

Rhymes for missile

• bristle
• fissile
• gristle
• missal
• nissl
• thistle
• whistle
• abyssal
• dismissal
• epistle

Kids Definition

missile

noun

mis·​sile

ˈmis-əl

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

Etymology

Noun

from Latin missile "a weapon that is thrown or shot rather than held in the hand," derived from missus, past participle of mittere "to send, throw" — related to emit