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.
The drones do not shoot bullets or any other kind of projectile.
From Barron's • May 15, 2026
Navy officials have said the new battleship would be armed with unproven next-generation weapons including lasers and rail guns, which are weapons that use electricity to fire a projectile instead of gunpowder.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026
Soon after that, Margo projectile vomits during a waitressing shift and claims not to know why.
From Salon • May 4, 2026
A container ship was also hit by "an unknown projectile" off the north-eastern coast of Oman, damaging some containers, according to the UKMTO.
From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026
But as his skinny, bent fingers could not release the projectile in time, he wound up drilling it against his own foot instead of at the bird.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
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.
