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 Thursday, a ship operated by Maersk was hit by fragments of a projectile, causing a fire.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026
The statement added: "UAE authorities warn against photographing, posting, or sharing images of incident sites or projectile damage as well as government buildings and diplomatic missions."
From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026
On Wednesday, three commercial ships near the strait were hit by a projectile, and Iran has been placing mines there, according to media reports.
From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026
On Saturday, video footage showed one projectile crashing at Dubai airport, while AFP journalists heard blasts in Iraq's Baghdad and Erbil on Saturday evening.
From Barron's • Mar. 8, 2026
The boy turns his head and pivots his body just in time; the Roman candle’s projectile misses my parachute by several feet.
From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day
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.
