nuclear warhead

[noo-klee-er wawr-hed, nyoo-]

noun

1. a warhead containing a fission or fusion bomb.

Pronunciation Note

See nuclear ( def. ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of nuclear warhead¹

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

He argued that "stopping Russia now" was cheaper than "wondering who will be the first to create a simple drone carrying a nuclear warhead".

From BBC

The files said one incident, in August 2019, resulted in the release of "unnecessary radioactive waste" in the form of low levels of tritium, which is used in nuclear warheads.

From BBC

Israel is the only country in the Middle East with nuclear warheads.

From Los Angeles Times

And unlike Iran, North Korea is believed to already have 40 to 50 nuclear warheads, making large-scale retaliation a very real possibility.

From Los Angeles Times

There are estimates that it has about 90 nuclear warheads.

From BBC

Related Words

• atomic bomb 
• hydrogen bomb 
• neutron bomb