ballistic

[buh-lis-tik]

adjective

1. of or relating to ballistics.

2. having its motion determined or describable by the laws of exterior ballistics.

ballistic

/ bəˈlɪstɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to ballistics

2. denoting or relating to the flight of projectiles after power has been cut off, moving under their own momentum and the external forces of gravity and air resistance

3. (of a measurement or measuring instrument) depending on a brief impulse or current that causes a movement related to the quantity to be measured

   a ballistic pendulum

4. informal,  to become enraged or frenziedly violent

5. (of materials) strong enough to resist damage by projectile weapons

   ballistic nylon

Other Word Forms

• ballistically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ballistic¹

First recorded in 1765–75; ballist(a) + -ic

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go ballistic, to become overwrought or irrational.

   went ballistic over the idea of a tax hike.

see go ballistic.

Example Sentences

To combat aerial assaults, Ukraine has persistently asked for more air-defense capabilities from its allies in the West and has particularly sought the Patriot, the American-made system capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

At least five people were killed late last week when Russia sent over 50 ballistic missiles and around 500 drones into nine regions across Ukraine.

Read more on BBC

Dr Chris Shepherd, an expert in ballistic wounds who has been running tests in an experimental ballistics facility at the University of Kent, said catapults could be lethal.

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What is mentioned less is the UK's ability to intercept ballistic missiles.

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To protect its skies from ballistic missiles, Kyiv has asked its Western partners for at least 10 units of Patriot surface-to-air defence systems which can detect and intercept oncoming missiles.

Read more on BBC