projectile

noun

pro·jec·tile | \ prə-ˈjek-tᵊl

, -ˌtī(-ə)l, chiefly British ˈprä-jik-ˌtī(-ə)l

Definition of projectile

(Entry 1 of 2)

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)

projectile

adjective

Definition of projectile (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : projecting or impelling forward a projectile force

2 : capable of being thrust forward

Examples of projectile in a Sentence

Noun

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Israel’s military said its Iron Dome defense system intercepted more than 100 of the projectiles. — Dov Lieber, WSJ, "Hamas Steps Back From All-Out War With Israel," 13 Nov. 2018 Sirens wailed in southern Israel warning of incoming projectiles from Gaza and Israeli media reported two people were lightly injured from shrapnel in the border town of Sderot. — Fox News, "Palestinian rocket fire hits Israel, UN urges more Gaza fuel," 8 Aug. 2018 Israel’s Iron Dome antimissile system intercepted dozens of incoming projectiles, according to the military. — New York Times, "Gaza Militants Barrage Israel With Mortars and Rockets," 29 May 2018 At one point, police used the pepper-spray projectiles to help control the crowd, according to news reports. — Ryan Tarinelli, Fox News, "Reports of pepper-spray projectile use concern Dallas chief," 12 Sep. 2018 At one point, police used the pepper-spray projectiles to help control the crowd, according to news reports. — Ryan Tarinelli, The Seattle Times, "Dallas chief wants review of police tactics at protest," 11 Sep. 2018 One officer was hurt after being struck by a projectile, police said. — Washington Post, "National Digest: Seattle bans drinking straws, the first major U.S. to do so," 2 July 2018 The ordinance in question, approved sometime in the 1920s, is Chapter 2, Section 13 of the original town charter, which prohibited the throwing of projectiles. — Emily S. Rueb, The Seattle Times, "9-year-old boy helps repeal snowball-throwing ban in Colorado town," 5 Dec. 2018 While one contestant tries to navigate an obstacle course, competitors fire giant projectiles to knock them off. — Andrew R. Chow, New York Times, "What’s on TV Wednesday: The World Cup Semifinals and ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’," 11 July 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.