Jump To:

• first strike
  first strike

  noun

  the initial use of nuclear weapons in a conflict, in which the attacker tries to destroy the adversary's strategic nuclear forces.
• first-strike
  first-strike

  adjective

  (of a nuclear missile) intended for use in an opening attack calculated to destroy the enemy's nuclear weapons

first strike

American  

noun

1. the initial use of nuclear weapons in a conflict, in which the attacker tries to destroy the adversary's strategic nuclear forces.

---

first-strike British  

adjective

1. (of a nuclear missile) intended for use in an opening attack calculated to destroy the enemy's nuclear weapons

---

Etymology

Origin of first strike

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

first strike first-strike

It would have marked their first strike in 35 years.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026

Since the union’s first strike in 2023, members’ average salary will have increased 54%, Arias said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 15, 2026

Buck Turgidson, one of the film’s most memorable characters, while agitating the president in the war room for a first strike against the Soviet Union.

From Salon ● Mar. 10, 2026

Footage of the first strike has already been released.

From BBC ● Dec. 4, 2025

She dodged my first strike and rolled into the brass section, knocking over a row of trombones with a mighty crash.

From "The Battle of the Labyrinth" by Rick Riordan

With her penetrating serve and thunderous groundstrokes, Rybakina has a brand of first-strike tennis that can take the racquet out of anyone's hands.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

Indeed, the Dodgers entered the night 24th in the majors with a 59.8% first-strike rate, a problem Roberts believes has led to too many long innings, and too large a workload for the staff.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2025

His 50.9% first-strike percentage entering was 155th among 157 pitchers who faced 150 or more plate appearances this season.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 25, 2022

What the U.S. has is a nuclear force which, while certainly a formidable retaliatory arsenal, is actually designed to function even better as a devastating first-strike force.

From Salon ● Feb. 16, 2022

Fearing a first-strike nuclear attack by the United States, the Soviet Union resolved not to let its guard down.

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