ballistic

[ buh-lis-tik ]

adjective

1. of or relating to ballistics.
2. having its motion determined or describable by the laws of exterior ballistics.

ballistic

/ bəˈlɪstɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to ballistics
2. denoting or relating to the flight of projectiles after power has been cut off, moving under their own momentum and the external forces of gravity and air resistance
3. (of a measurement or measuring instrument) depending on a brief impulse or current that causes a movement related to the quantity to be measured

   a ballistic pendulum

4. go ballistic informal.
   to become enraged or frenziedly violent
5. (of materials) strong enough to resist damage by projectile weapons

   ballistic nylon

Derived Forms

• balˈlistically, adverb

Other Words From

• bal·listi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ballistic¹

First recorded in 1765–75; ballist(a) + -ic

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go ballistic, Informal. to become overwrought or irrational:

   went ballistic over the idea of a tax hike.

More idioms and phrases containing ballistic

see go ballistic .

Example Sentences

It described ballistic and air-to-surface missile handling.

From BBC

Iran initially launched around 180 ballistic missiles at Israel in response to the killings of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.

From BBC

The US has repeatedly accused Pyongyang of sending vast amounts of military hardware to Russia, including ballistic missiles and launchers.

From BBC

Calling it “the worst deal in history”, he shared the views of many governments in the region that the deal, aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions, failed to tackle Iran’s ballistic missile programme while enriching the Revolutionary Guards with money then used to fund proxy militias around the region.

From BBC

No doubt the discussions will intensify in the coming days, especially since Trump’s victory comes in the wake of North Korea’s test of a new intercontinental ballistic missile.

From Slate