launcher

American  

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

noun

• launchers
  plural

1. a person or thing that launches.

2. a structural device designed to support and hold a missile in position for firing.

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launcher British  

/ ˈlɔːntʃə /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• launchers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of launcher

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

launcher launchers

SpaceX is the world’s busiest rocket launcher, regularly deploying satellites and other payloads to orbit from multiple launch sites, with an established record on high-profile government projects.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

Both Lockheed and RTX, which makes the Patriot launcher system, have pledged to meet White House demands to triple or quadruple their output of some high-tech missiles over the coming years, the Journal said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

This was followed by Falcon Heavy, a much more powerful launcher with two Falcon 9 boosters.

From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026

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

Among the grunts, some carried the M-79 grenade launcher, 5.9 pounds unloaded, a reasonably light weapon except for the ammunition, which was heavy.

From "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien

The department limited its use of the launchers after a federal judge issued an injunction in January, but has deployed other types of crowd control weapons in subsequent protests.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

Japan has been gradually moving away from its post-World War II pacifist status -- increasing military spending, ramping up defence pacts and deploying missile launchers to its outer islands.

From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026

Many are deployed on mobile truck-mounted launchers or concealed within hardened underground coastal missile bases.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

The effort calls for a blank slate by accepting new designs for seekers, rocket motors and other major components assembled into a missile that could still be fired from existing Patriot launchers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

And that if I can just get away from this section, I might be able to move out of reach of the launchers.

From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins