anti-missile
|an-ti-mis-sile|
/ˌæn.tiˈmɪs.əl/
against missiles
Etymology
'anti-missile' is formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') and the noun 'missile' (from Latin 'missilis', from 'mittere' meaning 'to send').
'missile' comes from Latin 'missilis' ('that may be thrown') and entered English via French in the 17th century; the prefix 'anti-' comes from Greek 'anti-' and was combined in modern English to form compound terms like 'anti-missile'.
Originally the elements meant 'against' and 'that which is thrown/sent'; over time the compound came to refer specifically to systems or weapons aimed at intercepting and destroying (enemy) missiles.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a weapon or system designed to detect, intercept, and destroy incoming missiles (often part of a missile-defense system).
The country deployed an anti-missile system along its coast to protect against incoming rockets.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
designed to destroy or defend against missiles (used before a noun, e.g., an anti-missile shield).
They tested an anti-missile shield during the military exercises.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/06 02:48