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launcher

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

noun

  1. a person or thing that launches. launch.

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

ˈlauncher British  
/ ˈlɔːntʃə /

noun

  1. 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.

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

Launching Station houses remote operating module, launcher and up to 16 interceptor missiles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

I use an air rope launcher to connect a thin cable between two buildings.

From "Legend" by Marie Lu

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.