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ballistic missile
noun
plural ballistic missiles
: a usually rocket-powered missile that is launched in a high arc under guidance for its ascent but that is unpowered and unguided once it begins its descent compare cruise missile, guided missile
Examples of ballistic missile in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The United States sent a bomber to Northeast Asia for a trilateral aerial exercise with its allies on Sunday, following North Korea's test launch of a new nuclear ballistic missile.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Last week, North Korea test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile designed to attack the U.S. mainland for the first time in almost a year.
—Hyung-Jin Kim and Kim Tong-Hyung, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
The military moves come as Israel's wars with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon rage, including a retaliatory strike on Iran a week ago that likely damaged a base that builds ballistic missiles and launches rockets as part of Tehran's space program.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 2 Nov. 2024
Navy destroyers which carry ballistic missile defense systems may be sourced from either the Indo-Pacific region or Europe.
—Jasmine Baehr, Fox News, 1 Nov. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1950, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of ballistic missile was
in 1950
Dictionary Entries Near ballistic missile
Cite this Entry
“Ballistic missile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ballistic%20missile. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
ballistic missile
noun
: a missile that moves under its own power, is guided as it rises in a steeply curving path, and falls freely on the way back to earth
More from Merriam-Webster on ballistic missile
Britannica English: Translation of ballistic missile for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ballistic missile
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