interceptor

American  

[in-ter-sep-ter] / ˌɪn tərˈsɛp tər /

Or intercepter

noun

1. a person or thing that intercepts.

2. Military. a fighter aircraft with fast-reaction capabilities, used to identify and, if appropriate, engage other aircraft in combat.

---

interceptor British  

/ ˌɪntəˈsɛptə /

noun

1. a person or thing that intercepts

2. a fast highly manoeuvrable fighter aircraft used to intercept enemy aircraft

---

Etymology

Origin of interceptor

1590–1600; < Latin, equivalent to intercep- ( intercept ) + -tor -tor ( def. )

Example Sentences

Israeli financial newspaper Calcalist reported that the military had chosen to use David's Sling in a bid to preserve Arrow interceptor stocks.

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

Each Arrow 2 interceptor costs an estimated $1.5 million, with Arrow 3s around $2 million.

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

These Aegis Ashore systems fire the same interceptor missiles currently being used by the US Navy to shoot down Iranian ballistic missiles.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

It has developed highly effective Bullet interceptor drones.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

To boot, Onofre’s TV antenna was so tall, so elaborate, so pronged, and so replete with squiggling copper and aluminum tubing and boosters, that it looked like a DEW-line radar interceptor in Greenland.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols