nuclear warhead

[ noo-klee-er wawr-hed, nyoo- ]

noun

1. a warhead containing a fission or fusion bomb.

Pronunciation Note

See nuclear ( def ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of nuclear warhead¹

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Because these cruise missiles could be mounted with nuclear warheads if that’s what they decide.

From Time

The weapon was described as “strategic,” a word often used by countries to imply, without explicitly stating, that the weapon is designed to carry a nuclear warhead.

From Popular-Science

In other words, North Korea has many kinds of missiles it can use, but current estimates suggest it could, at most, outfit just 45 weapons with nuclear warheads.

From Popular-Science

This part of the event took place just before the destruction of Verdansk in the game’s timeline, as players competed to be the team to launch a nuclear warhead, which is the one that ends up wiping out Verdansk.

From Washington Post

The run-up to the nuclear event spanned the entirety of the two-month second season, though nuclear warheads were discovered inside of several bunkers scattered around the Verdansk map last year.

From Washington Post

The weapon carries a 200-kiloton nuclear warhead; by comparison, the bomb that destroyed Nagasaki was a mere 21 kilotons.

From The Daily Beast

If they were, then we could all run out and purchase a tank, a grenade launcher, a bazooka, a SCUD missile and a nuclear warhead.

From The Daily Beast

Intelligence suggesting North Korea could design a nuclear warhead has been building for many years.

From The Daily Beast

The two countries even worked together on a developing a missile that could carry a nuclear warhead, according to reports.

From The Daily Beast

It counts napalm and the cost of a nuclear warhead, and armored cars for police who fight riots in our streets.

From The Daily Beast

Related Words

• atomic bomb
• hydrogen bomb
• neutron bomb