plural ICBM's or ICBMs ˌī-ˌsē-(ˌ)bē-ˈemz How to pronounce ICBM (audio)
: an intercontinental ballistic missile

Examples of ICBM in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Ice dancers Ren Junfei and Xing Jianing were seen with a large toy version of China’s new DF-61 missile – a huge intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) transported on an eight-axle truck and capable of carrying nuclear weapons – at the Cup of China in Chongqing on Saturday. George Ramsay, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025 Tests under the Air Mobile Feasibility Program in 1974 successfully launched a Minuteman ICBM from a C-5A over the Pacific, proving the concept worked. Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2025 But soon, their typical routine is abruptly interrupted when an unidentified intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is detected. Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Oct. 2025 Since December 2001, there have been reports that Russia is looking at modernizing its nuclear forces with weapons that would have the range of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), yet would be able to dodge radar and avoid any anti-ballistic missile defenses. David Szondy october 26, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2025 The Kremlin confirmed successful launches of a Yars ICBM, cruise missiles from Tu-95MS bombers, and a ballistic missile from a submarine in the Barents Sea. Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025 The launch of the unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) took place on Wednesday (May 21) at 3:01 a.m. Brett Tingley, Space.com, 21 May 2025 Over War Game Concerns How U.S. Minuteman III Tests Stack Up Against Russia's ICBM Track Record Some suggest that the plane suffered a mechanical failure of some kind, while other, more conspiratorial, theories claim that staff aboard the flight planned to hijack the plane for other purposes. Matt Robison, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025 Originally designed as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Atlas F was later repurposed to launch satellites, including Parcae. IEEE Spectrum, 21 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ICBM was in 1955

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Cite this Entry

“ICBM.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ICBM. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

: an intercontinental ballistic missile
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