second-strike

American  

[sek-uhnd-strahyk] / ˈsɛk əndˈstraɪk /

adjective

1. noting, pertaining to, or using nuclear forces capable of withstanding attack and retaliating after an adversary has launched a first strike.

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second-strike British  

adjective

1. (of a nuclear weapon) intended to be used in a counterattack in response to a nuclear attack

2. (of a strategy) based on the concept of surviving an initial nuclear attack with enough nuclear weaponry to retaliate

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Other Word Forms

• second strike noun

Etymology

Origin of second-strike

First recorded in 1960–65; second ¹ ( def. ) + strike (in the sense “military attack”

Example Sentences

Both the Poseidon and the Burevestnik are second-strike, retaliatory weapons, Mr Galeotti added - and not even the most rabid Kremlin propagandists are suggesting anyone is preparing to launch strikes on Russia.

From BBC

In 2019, Hernandez was sentenced to 80 years to life for killing a man outside of a bar in Southeast Los Angeles, a second-strike offense, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

From Los Angeles Times

Lyle Morris, a senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, told the BBC that developments such as hypersonic missiles were making China reconsider its second-strike policy, forcing the expansion of its stockpile.

From BBC

“He is determined to operationalize his nuclear arsenal and is developing a credible second-strike capability.”

From Washington Times

The weapons information “made an important contribution to the Chinese objective to maintain a second-strike capability and provided useful information for future designs,” the assessment said.

From Washington Times