antisatellite

American  

[an-tee-sat-l-ahyt, an-tahy-] / ˌæn tiˈsæt lˌaɪt, ˈæn taɪ- /

Also ASAT

adjective

1. (of a weapon or weapon system) designed to destroy an enemy's orbiting satellite.

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Etymology

Origin of antisatellite

First recorded in 1960–65; anti- + satellite

Example Sentences

Kinetic antisatellite weapons — the kind that blow things up — make clouds that last decades.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 30, 2025

From there, others reported that the “orbital” “Russian” “space” “weapon” could be nuclear in nature—more specifically, “a space-based antisatellite nuclear weapon”—although it is still under development.

From Slate • Feb. 14, 2024

Global Positioning System, from China’s expanding antisatellite arsenal.

From Washington Post • Jan. 12, 2023

China conducts its first test of an antisatellite weapon, matching an ability demonstrated by the United States and Russia.

From New York Times • Dec. 12, 2022

It also came after Russia's Ministry of Defense in November tested an antisatellite weapon by destroying a defunct satellite, creating a debris field near the ISS that forced astronauts into shelter, the sources said.

From Reuters • Aug. 4, 2022