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.

---

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

---

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.)

---

Etymology

Origin of intercontinental ballistic missile

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Strolling alongside her father in front of a towering intercontinental ballistic missile, she wore black trousers and a white padded jacket with her long hair tied back.

From BBC • May 5, 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 • Feb. 26, 2026

Kim is approaching the deadline for his five-year weapons plan, first detailed in early 2021, that included hypersonic technology, a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile and spy satellites.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 23, 2025

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