launch vehicle

noun

: a rocket used to launch a satellite or spacecraft

Examples of launch vehicle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This will be purely a test flight for Ariane 6, which is Europe's next-generation launch vehicle. Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 14 June 2024 Rocket Lab’s Electron, for example, is the only small orbital launch vehicle in the world that is designed to be largely reusable. Riis Williams, Scientific American, 7 June 2024 Russia could soon offer North Korea assistance with space launch vehicles—assistance that would help North Korea develop better ICBMs. Sue Mi Terry, Foreign Affairs, 16 May 2024 The expendable launch vehicle underneath Starliner itself encapsulates much of that history as well as that of the Cold War and its aftermath. Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 5 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for launch vehicle 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'launch vehicle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1960, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of launch vehicle was circa 1960

Dictionary Entries Near launch vehicle

Cite this Entry

“Launch vehicle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/launch%20vehicle. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on launch vehicle

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