missile

1 of 2

adjective

mis·​sile ˈmi-səl How to pronounce missile (audio)
chiefly British
-ˌsīl How to pronounce missile (audio)
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

Examples of missile in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Until recently, the U.S. had limited any training of Ukrainians on U.S. weapons systems to Europe and was reluctant to send Patriots to Ukraine – over concerns the advanced anti-missile system and training of Ukrainians on U.S. soil would be seen as escalatory by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Jan. 2023 Senior Israeli lawmakers have already called on Netanyahu to provide Ukraine with anti-drone and anti-missile systems. Tovah Lazaroff, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2023 Germany has already delivered the first of four Iris-T systems, and Ukraine has also received an Aspide anti-missile system from Spain. Anthony Capaccio, Bloomberg.com, 13 Dec. 2022 When China was unhappy with South Korea over its decision to deploy a U.S. anti-missile defense system several years ago, Beijing punished Seoul by curtailing culture exchanges between the two sides. Russell Flannery, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022 The Italian government has worked closely with France to transfer the SAMP-T air defense system to Ukraine, and the new aid package will also include the Skyguard anti-missile system and Aspide air defense missiles. Katya Soldak, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2023 The 16,000-ton Zumwalt and her only two sister ships, Michael Monsoor and Lyndon B. Johnson, are presently the only surface warships slated to integrate the CPS missiles, carrying up to 12 of the 8-ton missiles in four multi-missile launch tubes. Sebastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 14 Feb. 2023 But an ally that won’t supply its friends with more Patriot anti-missile interceptors simply isn’t credible with these determined adversaries. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 8 Dec. 2021 The spat will likely rekindle memories of China’s decision to dramatically scale back trade with South Korea in 2017 after then-President Moon Jae-in agreed to host a US anti-missile system. Time, 10 Jan. 2023
Noun
Friday’s attack involved more than 75 missiles, including seven advanced, hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, according to Ukraine’s air force. Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2024 Then, around 3 a.m., Russian fighter jets fired cruise missiles, followed by ballistic missiles and then hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, one of the most sophisticated weapons in Russia’s arsenal. Ivan Nechepurenko, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024 Ukraine’s air defense intercepted less than half of the 88 missiles, which affected electricity generation and transmission systems across the country early Friday, Zelenskiy said on his Telegram channel. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2024 In lieu of new congressional funding, the Pentagon last week unveiled a $300 million aid package that includes Stinger antiaircraft missiles, 155 millimeter artillery rounds, 105 millimeter artillery rounds, anti-armor systems, and other munitions and equipment. Siobhán O'Grady, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 Several news reports in recent weeks have suggested the Biden administration is mulling giving Ukraine a newer version of the missile system that would give Ukraine the ability to reach further into Crimea, territory illegally annexed by Russia in 2014. Andrew Carey, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024 Hypersonic missiles would pose a more serious threat to American and allied warships in the region. Jon Gambrell, Quartz, 17 Mar. 2024 While Eddie focuses on the missile, Chimney is monitoring the man in the recliner, which will lead him to question how to keep the spark alive with fiancée Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt). Patrick Gomez, EW.com, 14 Mar. 2024 Leading a coalition of over 20 countries, the United States is working to protect crucial shipping lanes by shooting down Houthi drones and missiles and otherwise trying to stop attacks that emanate from Yemen. Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 12 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'missile.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of missile was in 1610

Dictionary Entries Near missile

Cite this Entry

“Missile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/missile. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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

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