projectile

noun pro·jec·tile \ prə-ˈjek-tᵊl , -ˌtī(-ə)l , chiefly British ˈprä-jik-ˌtī(-ə)l \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Examples: projectile in a Sentence

Definition of projectile

1 : a body projected by external force and continuing in motion by its own inertia; especially : a missile for a weapon (such as a firearm)

2 : a self-propelling weapon (such as a rocket)

See projectile defined for English-language learners

See projectile defined for kids

Examples of projectile in a Sentence

The cannon fires a ten-pound projectile.
Someone threw a projectile at her car.

Recent Examples of projectile from the Web

Do wear eye protection as projectiles will be flying, and be very careful not to strip the bark off trees and shrubs.

— jeff lowenfels, Anchorage Daily News, "Your garden chore this week? Do the neighborly thing and tidy up," 7 June 2018
Militants responded by firing another projectile that was intercepted, the army said.

— fares akram, The Seattle Times, "Protests resume after Palestinian paramedic’s Gaza funeral," 2 June 2018
Israeli police said that militants from the Islamic Jihad group fired 130 projectiles, apparently in retaliation for Israel's killing of three guerrillas on Sunday.

— hana salah, latimes.com, "Palestinians in Gaza launch biggest rocket barrage in years, then claim they have agreed to cease-fire," 29 May 2018
Venus flytraps, as well as robots inspired by Venus flytraps—and modeling the interactions of minuscule springs, latches, projectiles, and motors.

— robbie gonzalez, WIRED, "Nature’s Mechanical Secrets Could Help Build Faster Robots," 26 Apr. 2018
As Besiktas manager Senol Gunes tried to separate a scuffle near the sideline, the coach was struck on the head with a projectile and fell to the ground.

— andrew joseph, For The Win, "Turkish soccer coach injured by projectile before brawl broke out in tunnel," 19 Apr. 2018
The Israeli military said most of the projectiles fired Tuesday were intercepted, but three soldiers were wounded.

— fares akram, The Christian Science Monitor, "Israel and Hamas agree to cease-fire," 30 May 2018
The Israeli military said most of the projectiles were intercepted, but three soldiers were wounded, raising the chances of further Israeli retaliation.

— josef federman, The Seattle Times, "Gaza militants strike Israel, drawing Israeli retaliation," 29 May 2018
But the high volume of projectiles came as tensions have been running high along the Israel-Gaza border.

— NBC News, "Mortar shells fired from Gaza, Israeli military says," 29 May 2018

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

First Known Use of projectile

1564

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Weapons and Explosives Terms

automatic, carbine, cudgel, muzzle, rapier

projectile

adjective

Definition of projectile

1 : projecting or impelling forward

a projectile force

2 : capable of being thrust forward

First Known Use of projectile

1715

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Physics Terms

amplitude, centrifugal, centripetal, convection, gradient, hysteresis, kinetic, lase, quantum

PROJECTILE Defined for English Language Learners

projectile

noun

Definition of projectile for English Language Learners

: something (such as a bullet or rocket) that is shot from a weapon
: something (such as a rock) that is thrown as a weapon

PROJECTILE Defined for Kids

projectile

noun pro·jec·tile \ prə-ˈjek-təl \

Definition of projectile for Students

: something (as a bullet or rocket) thrown or shot especially from a weapon

Learn More about projectile

See words that rhyme with projectile Spanish Central: Translation of projectile Nglish: Translation of projectile for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of projectile for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about projectile

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projectile

Definition of projectile

Examples of projectile in a Sentence

Recent Examples of projectile from the Web

First Known Use of projectile

Other Weapons and Explosives Terms

projectile

Definition of projectile

First Known Use of projectile

Other Physics Terms

PROJECTILE Defined for English Language Learners

projectile

Definition of projectile for English Language Learners

PROJECTILE Defined for Kids

projectile

Definition of projectile for Students

Learn More about projectile

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