antimissile

American  

[an-tee-mis-uhl, an-tahy-, -mis-ahyl] / ˌæn tiˈmɪs əl, ˌæn taɪ-, -ˈmɪs aɪl /

Or anti-missile

adjective

1. designed or used in defense against guided enemy missiles.

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noun

1. a ballistic device for seeking and destroying enemy missiles.

antimissile British  

/ ˌæntɪˈmɪsaɪl /

adjective

1. relating to defensive measures against missile attack

   an antimissile system

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noun

1. Also called: antimissile missile.   AMM.  a defensive missile used to intercept and destroy attacking missiles

Etymology

Origin of antimissile

First recorded in 1955–60; anti- + missile

Example Sentences

Italy’s Parliament approved a motion that authorizes the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to deploy air defenses, antimissile defenses and surveillance systems to support countries in the Gulf region and protect Italian citizens and strategic infrastructure.

From The Wall Street Journal

The U.S. military has a significant arsenal of high-end, air-defense weapons, including Thaad antimissile batteries that intercept ballistic missiles above the Earth’s atmosphere; Patriots, that defend against lower-altitude, shorter-range threats; and destroyers armed with Standard Missile interceptors.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Thaad antimissile system was deployed to Israel in 2024, along with the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal

The U.S. has sent Army troops to Israel to operate the Thaad antimissile system and has previously stationed ballistic missile defense-equipped destroyers near Israel to help protect the country from missile and drone attacks.

From The Wall Street Journal

The U.S. also sent Patriot antimissile batteries that year to Israel to defend the country from the Scud missile attacks then Iraqi President Saddam Hussein had ordered.

From The Wall Street Journal