intercontinental ballistic missile

American  

noun

1. any supersonic missile that has a range of at least 3500 nautical miles (6,500 km) and follows a ballistic trajectory after a powered, guided launching. ICBM, I.C.B.M.

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intercontinental ballistic missile British  

/ ˌɪntəˌkɒntɪˈnɛntəl /

noun

1.  ICBM.  a missile that follows a ballistic trajectory and has the range to carry a nuclear bomb over 5500 km

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intercontinental ballistic missile Cultural  

1. A missile with a long range (five thousand miles or more) that carries nuclear warheads and can be launched from the ground or from submarines. (See also MIRV.)

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Etymology

Origin of intercontinental ballistic missile

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Iran would need to master significant technological challenges before it could field an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking the U.S. homeland, according to U.S. intelligence estimates and experts outside government.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

She was shown inspecting North Korea's latest intercontinental ballistic missile while holding her father's hand.

From BBC • Feb. 12, 2026

Ju Ae was publicly introduced to the world in 2022, when she accompanied her father to an intercontinental ballistic missile launch.

From Barron's • Jan. 2, 2026

It turns out that the Pentagon had removed some “excess” money from its account for the Sentinel, the new intercontinental ballistic missile, which had been experiencing enormous cost overruns.

From Slate • Jul. 2, 2025

Each mission presented myriad pathways to disaster, starting with the notoriously temperamental Atlas rocket, a ninety-five-foot-high, 3.5-million-horsepower intercontinental ballistic missile that had been modified to propel the Mercury capsule into orbit.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

Related Words

• guided missile