interceptor

American  

[in-ter-sep-ter] / ˌɪn tərˈsɛp tər /

Or intercepter

noun

1. a person or thing that intercepts.

2. Military. a fighter aircraft with fast-reaction capabilities, used to identify and, if appropriate, engage other aircraft in combat.

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interceptor British  

/ ˌɪntəˈsɛptə /

noun

1. a person or thing that intercepts

2. a fast highly manoeuvrable fighter aircraft used to intercept enemy aircraft

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Etymology

Origin of interceptor

1590–1600; < Latin, equivalent to intercep- ( see intercept) + -tor -tor ( def. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

interceptor

But the task becomes much more difficult if an interceptor drone can only fly at 90 mph, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

Several European countries were ready to transfer Patriot interceptor missiles from their own stockpiles but were awaiting US approval, he said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026

Ukraine currently uses Elon Musk's Starshield, Starlink's military-grade satellite service, for its battlefield communications, mid-range strikes on Russian-occupied territory and interceptor drones.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

The paper says the interceptor system would be funded by "slashing benefits"

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

To boot, Onofre’s TV antenna was so tall, so elaborate, so pronged, and so replete with squiggling copper and aluminum tubing and boosters, that it looked like a DEW-line radar interceptor in Greenland.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

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