projectile
Americannoun
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an object fired from a gun with an explosive propelling charge, such as a bullet, shell, rocket, or grenade.
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a body projected or impelled forward, as through the air.
adjective
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impelling or driving forward, as a force.
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caused by impulse, as motion.
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capable of being impelled forward, as a missile.
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Zoology. protrusile, as the jaws of a fish.
noun
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an object or body thrown forwards
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any self-propelling missile, esp one powered by a rocket or the rocket itself
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any object that can be fired from a gun, such as a bullet or shell
adjective
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capable of being or designed to be hurled forwards
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projecting or thrusting forwards
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zoology another word for protrusile
Etymology
Origin of projectile
1655–65; < New Latin, neuter of prōjectilis (adj.) projecting. See project, -ile
Explanation
A projectile is a type of weapon that is propelled towards its target. If you fire a cannon, the cannonball is a projectile, but the cannon itself is not. When projectile refers to a weapon, it is always propelled by something else. Think of the bullet in a gun or a spear thrown by a person. A rocket, which is self-propelled, is also called a projectile. As an adjective, projectile means "propelled forward" as in a projectile force or weapon. Sometimes you see the expression, projectile vomiting, a particularly violent way to throw up.
Vocabulary lists containing projectile
Schooled
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Force and Motion (Mechanics) - Middle School
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Force and Motion (Mechanics) - Introductory
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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.
On 3 August, shipping security firm Vanguard reported the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Minoan Pioneer was struck by a projectile near Oman.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
And you can put stuff in a guy’s mouth and have him spit it out, but to really get a good projectile vomit, you need to have some sort of cannon apparatus.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
The British navy’s marine-traffic monitoring agency, UKMTO, reported that a cargo vessel had been hit by an unknown projectile off the coast of Oman early Tuesday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
When asked by AFP about reports of explosions near the Israeli city of Eilat, a military spokeswoman said both Israeli and Jordanian forces had intercepted a projectile.
From Barron's ● Jul. 19, 2026
Instead of using my akrafena to deflect it, I freeze in place—watching the projectile soar toward me.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
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.
