ballistic missile

American  

noun

Rocketry.

1. any missile that, after being launched and possibly guided during takeoff, travels unpowered in a ballistic trajectory.

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ballistic missile British  

noun

1. a missile that has no wings or fins and that follows a ballistic trajectory when its propulsive power is discontinued

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Etymology

Origin of ballistic missile

First recorded in 1950–55

Compare meaning

How does ballistic-missile compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• cruise missile vs. ballistic missile

Example Sentences

If Russia or China were to fire intercontinental ballistic missiles at the U.S., many would likely cross over Greenland.

From The Wall Street Journal

The shortest route for a ballistic missile to reach the U.S. from Russia is over Greenland.

From Barron's

It also sits beneath the flight paths of potential intercontinental ballistic missiles fired from parts of Russia or China.

From The Wall Street Journal

On Monday he met in Beijing with Xi, a day after the nuclear-armed North fired two ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan.

From Barron's

Greenland is considered strategically well located to detect long-range ballistic missiles.

From Barron's

Related Words

• intercontinental ballistic missile
• surface-to-air missile