launcher

American

[lawn-cher, lahn-] / ˈlɔn tʃər, ˈlɑn- /

noun

a person or thing that launches.
a structural device designed to support and hold a missile in position for firing.

launcher British

/ ˈlɔːntʃə /

noun

any installation, vehicle, or other device for launching rockets, missiles, or other projectiles

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

launchers

plural

Etymology

Origin of launcher

First recorded in 1815–25; launch ¹ + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

All solid rocket booster segments have arrived at Kennedy Space Center, and upgrades to the mobile launcher remain on schedule.

From Science Daily • Jun. 11, 2026

North Korea first unveiled the launcher at a military parade last year.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

Another photo shows Kim standing next to a mobile launcher flanked by military officials.

From Barron's • May 27, 2026

As evidence, it cited a February 2024 post from the IDF's Arabic spokesman, which included photos that he said showed Wishah operating weapons, including a rocket-propelled grenade launcher.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

I thank him, and he heads back home to shoot his potato launcher, or dissect bugs, or whatever a kid like him does with his free time.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023