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

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.

The mobile launcher has since been moved back to the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center, where it will undergo repairs and preparations for future missions.

From Science Daily • May 4, 2026

Musk and SpaceX also aim to develop a city on the moon, along with factories and a satellite launcher.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

SEOUL—North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a live-fire exercise for one of his top military priorities: an upgraded rocket launcher able to fire tactical nukes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 15, 2026

Made by US company Lockheed Martin, the anti-missile system includes six mounted launchers, with eight interceptors on each launcher, and a radar system for detection.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

His rifle changed into a sword and then a rocket launcher.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

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