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

See Examples For:

ballistic missile

He said the goal of the U.S. operation was to incapacitate Iran’s ballistic missile program, its navy and its nuclear program.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026

The gathering aims to grapple with challenges such as climate change, drug crime, and the Chinese test-firing of a ballistic missile in July that landed in the Pacific Ocean.

From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026

Security analysts said similar missile drills have been held before and are designed to rehearse Russia’s defense of the Sea of Okhotsk, an area vital for Russia’s fleet of ballistic missile submarines.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

Last summer's wildfire burned near to RAF Fylingdales, part of the UK and US ballistic missile warning system.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

That year, its research in lightweight thermonuclear bombs came together with the navy’s urgent desire for a nuclear ballistic missile that could be launched from a forthcoming class of submarines with unprecedented range.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• intercontinental ballistic missile
• surface-to-air missile