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

The projectile crashed into the arrivals hall, damaging ceilings and windows and causing a fire, though the airport was able to keep functioning with only two flights cancelled. — Bloomberg News, The Mercury News, "Tanker attacks raise fears of Persian Gulf unrest," 13 June 2019 The cost of the LRLAP projectile, originally pegged at $50,000 each, ballooned to $800,000 each making them unaffordable to even the mighty U.S. Navy. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "After Only 3 Years in Service, the USS Zumwalt’s Mission Is Changing," 17 May 2019 The projectile did not cross into Israeli territory but did set off air-raid sirens in the country’s south. — Isabel Debre, The Seattle Times, "Israel, Hamas take first steps toward Gaza cease-fire deal," 31 Mar. 2019 These projectiles, with a range of about 20 kilometers (12 miles), are believed to have been delivered via Iran. — Fares Akram, The Seattle Times, "Hamas has developed a vast arsenal in blockaded Gaza," 25 Mar. 2019 Its Hayabusa2 spacecraft fired a projectile at a space rock called Ryugu. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Scientists Surprised at How Much of Asteroid They Blew Up," 25 Apr. 2019 The projectile was from a section of an e-cigarette. — Jacqueline Howard And Tina Burnside, CNN, "Florida man dies in e-cigarette explosion, police say," 15 May 2018 The intense laser pulse lasted just a few microseconds, but created a brilliant flash and a loud bang, as though the leather had been hit by an explosive projectile. — David Hambling, Popular Mechanics, "The Secret History of Plasma Weapons," 14 Nov. 2018 Thousands of opposition supporters from around the country showed up at Tirana’s main Martyrs of the Nation boulevard holding anti-government posters and slogans, throwing flares, firecrackers and other projectiles at police. — Llazar Semini, The Seattle Times, "Albanian opposition clashes with police in anti-govt protest," 13 Apr. 2019

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.