projectile

1 of 2

noun

pro·​jec·​tile prə-ˈjek-tᵊl How to pronounce projectile (audio) -ˌtī(-ə)l How to pronounce projectile (audio)
 chiefly British  ˈprä-jik-ˌtī(-ə)l
Synonyms of projectilenext
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
All hell breaks loose during high-stakes game as coach erupts, players dodge projectile. — Fox News, 21 Mar. 2025 Sirens that had become increasingly rare during the ceasefire rang out in a number of areas in central Israel on Thursday, after projectiles were launched from the Gaza Strip, the IDF said. — Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Police badly wounded people with projectile weapons at the George Floyd protests and the Lakers’ NBA title celebration in L.A., spurring a mountain of lawsuits — which have cost taxpayers millions and still aren’t fully resolved. — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2024 This, together with competition from H. sapiens, who likely possessed technologies like projectile weapons, likely contributed to these other human species going extinct. — Conor Feehly, Discover Magazine, 11 Oct. 2023 See All Example Sentences for projectile

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1564, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1715, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of projectile was in 1564

Phrases Containing projectile

Rhymes for projectile

See All Rhymes for projectile

Browse Nearby Words

projectile
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Cite this Entry

“Projectile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/projectile. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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