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

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

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

Noun

On Thursday, two humanitarian workers were killed after Russia carried out a missile strike on a demining site in northern Ukraine, according to the Danish Refugee Council, who was leading the mission. —Darya Tarasova, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025

Each phase requires different interception techniques because of its distinct challenges to missile defenses. —Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025

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