projectile

American  

[pruh-jek-til, -tahyl] / prəˈdʒɛk tɪl, -taɪl /

noun

1. an object fired from a gun with an explosive propelling charge, such as a bullet, shell, rocket, or grenade.

2. a body projected or impelled forward, as through the air.

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adjective

1. impelling or driving forward, as a force.

2. caused by impulse, as motion.

3. capable of being impelled forward, as a missile.

4. Zoology. protrusile, as the jaws of a fish.

projectile British  

/ prəˈdʒɛktaɪl /

noun

1. an object or body thrown forwards

2. any self-propelling missile, esp one powered by a rocket or the rocket itself

3. any object that can be fired from a gun, such as a bullet or shell

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adjective

1. capable of being or designed to be hurled forwards

2. projecting or thrusting forwards

3. 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.

Example Sentences

UKMTO, which is affiliated with the British navy, also said it received a report of a containership off Oman being hit by an unknown projectile that damaged some of its containers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

A federal jury has awarded $11.8 million to a Los Angeles Dodgers fan who was blinded by a police projectile during a World Series celebration downtown in 2020.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 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

No debris of a drone or projectile has yet been identified, emergency teams said.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 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

Related Words

• arrow
• bullet
• dart
• missile
• rocket
• torpedo