projectile

1 of 2

noun

pro·​jec·​tile prə-ˈjek-tᵊl  -ˌtī(-ə)l 

chiefly British ˈprä-jik-ˌtī(-ə)l

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

2 of 2

adjective

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

Unfortunately, we humans would be powerless against a rare giant projectile many miles in diameter. — Govert Schilling, Scientific American, 27 June 2026

Trump’s post on social media did not identify the ship or the time of the strike, but on Thursday the British military said a vessel was hit by a projectile off the coast of Oman. — Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026

Adjective

This is used to describe a player or hero that does damage without any projectile travel time. — Dallas News, 3 May 2022

There are projectile weapons, energy swords, missile launchers, shields, and more. — Ash Parrish, The Verge, 25 July 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1564, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1715, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing projectile

• projectile vomiting

Rhymes for projectile

• erectile
• anorectal
• colorectal
• dialectal
• rectal

Kids Definition

projectile

noun

pro·​jec·​tile

prə-ˈjek-tᵊl

: something (as a bullet or rocket) thrown or driven forward especially from or for use as a weapon