missile

American  

[mis-uhl, -ahyl] / ˈmɪs əl, -aɪl /

noun

• missiles
  plural

1. an object or weapon for throwing, hurling, or shooting, as a stone, bullet, or arrow.

2. guided missile.

3. ballistic missile.

---

adjective

1. capable of being thrown, hurled, or shot, as from the hand or a gun.

2. used or designed for discharging missiles.

missile British  

/ ˈmɪsaɪl /

noun

1. any object or weapon that is thrown at a target or shot from an engine, gun, etc

2. 1. a rocket-propelled weapon that flies either in a fixed trajectory (ballistic missile) or in a trajectory that can be controlled during flight (guided missile)

   2. ( as modifier )

      a missile carrier

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• missiles
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of missile

1600–10; < Latin, neuter of missilis, equivalent to miss ( us ) (past participle of mittere to send, throw) + -ilis -ile

---

Explanation

A missile is an object that can be projected toward a target. Examples include a spitball shot through a straw, a poison-tipped arrow sent via bow, or a self-propelled heat-seeking rocket, designed to take out targets at long range. When you learn about the Cuban Missile Crisis in history, the missiles in question were guided rockets loaded with nuclear warheads, supplied to the Cubans by the Soviet Union. A missile defense strategy is one where you send up defensive missile to blow up your enemy's offensive ones before they can reach you.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

missile missiles

Earlier this month, North Korea announced the AI-assisted launch of an intermediate-range hypersonic missile.

From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026

Pyongyang said its latest AI-assisted hypersonic missile followed a "wave-like trajectory" that left South Korea and Japan unable to track it effectively.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

While power plants and oil refineries have been hit, data centers and internet facilities are becoming the latest quarry for drone and missile strikes — and not just in Europe.

From Salon ● Oct. 15, 2026

The ballistic missile strikes launched on Haradh and Dhahran in the Eastern Province had been intercepted.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

These images, he explained, showed intermediate-range missile sites.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

Meanwhile, Ukraine is relying on other ways of defending against jet drones, from electronic warfare to shoulder-launched missiles such as the U.S.-made Stinger.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani told the BBC that the prime minister and other ministers were unhurt when five ballistic missiles hit al-Maashiq Palace, but that many others were injured.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

A velocity cap prevents their integration into missiles and fast-moving drones.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

Yemeni information minister Moammar al-Eryani said the prime minister and cabinet ministers were safe, adding the attack had been carried out with five missiles.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

Cuba could provide him with a convenient launching pad for his missiles.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• ammunition
• bomb
• bullet
• projectile
• rocket

---