warhead

American  

[wawr-hed] / ˈwɔrˌhɛd /

noun

1. the forward section of a self-propelled missile, bomb, torpedo, or the like, containing the explosive, chemical, or atomic charge.

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warhead British  

/ ˈwɔːˌhɛd /

noun

1. the part of the fore end of a missile or projectile that contains explosives

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Etymology

Origin of warhead

First recorded in 1895–1900; war ¹ + head

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

warhead

The Monday launch involved strategic cruise missiles fitted with a new cluster-munition warhead, the official Korean Central News Agency reported Tuesday.

From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2026

Just over a month prior, China had test-fired a submarine ballistic missile with a dummy nuclear warhead with the capacity to reach the U.S. from Chinese coastal waters, raising alarms across the Pacific region.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

Neros’s drones, called Archer, cost about $2,000 each and about $5,000 once the warhead and related equipment are added.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

A Chinese submarine test-fired a "strategic" missile carrying a dummy warhead on Monday, with monitors saying the rocket appeared to land in a patch of ocean somewhere between Solomon Islands, Nauru and Tuvalu.

From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026

When it launched on June 9, 1959, the stealthy sub carried sixteen nuclear-tipped missiles capable of hurling a warhead 1,300 miles.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

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