warhead

noun

war·​head ˈwȯr-ˌhed How to pronounce warhead (audio)
: the section of a missile containing the explosive, chemical, or incendiary charge

Examples of warhead in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Israel’s Arrow-3 targets exo-atmospheric threats, while Arrow-4 trials aim to handle maneuverable warheads in the upper atmosphere. Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 3 Mar. 2026 That makes France the world’s fourth-largest nuclear power after Russia (more than 4,300 warheads), the United States (about 3,700) and China (about 600). ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026 Building a functional intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking the US would require overcoming substantial technical hurdles, such as producing a nuclear warhead and successfully miniaturizing it, Eliana Johns, a Federation of American Scientists senior research associate, said. Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026 France’s nuclear force Macron said in 2020 that France has fewer than 300 warheads — a number that has remained stable since former President Nicolas Sarkozy announced a modest reduction to that level in 2008. John Leicester, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for warhead

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of warhead was in 1890

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Cite this Entry

“Warhead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/warhead. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

warhead

noun
war·​head ˈwȯ(ə)r-ˌhed How to pronounce warhead (audio)
: the section of a missile containing the charge

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