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

Paris joined several other European capitals to announce that additional warships would be deployed to the Mediterranean, along with anti-drone and anti-missile defenses, to help defend Cyprus. —Elena Giuliano, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026

The White House has been on the defensive after news reports detailing concerns about low supply of both munitions and anti-missile defenses if the Iran war drags on. —Dan Mangan, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026

Noun

The Kremlin will also be pleased the US has used huge numbers of munitions, notably advanced missiles that Ukraine badly needed. —Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 13 Mar. 2026

More than 60% of Iran’s missile launchers have been neutralized. —Michael M. Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 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