cruise missile: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Technical, Military, Political, Journalism
Quick answer
What does “cruise missile” mean?
A guided missile designed to fly at low altitude, following a pre-programmed path to its target.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A guided missile designed to fly at low altitude, following a pre-programmed path to its target.
A term sometimes used metaphorically to describe a person, strategy, or process that is directed toward a target with precision and inevitability.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling of related terms may differ (e.g., 'programmed' vs. 'programmed').
Connotations
Identical technical and geopolitical connotations.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties within military and news discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “cruise missile” in a Sentence
[Subject: Nation/Military] launched/fired/deployed a cruise missile at [Target].The [Adjective] cruise missile was designed to [Verb Phrase].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cruise missile” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The fighter was cruising at Mach 0.9.
- We spent the afternoon cruising along the coast.
American English
- He was just cruising down the highway.
- The company needs to stop cruising and start innovating.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable for 'cruise missile'. The adverb 'cruisingly' is obsolete.
American English
- Not applicable for 'cruise missile'. The adverb 'cruisingly' is obsolete.
adjective
British English
- They booked a cruise holiday in the Med.
- The ship has a superb cruise liner design.
American English
- We went on a cruise ship to Alaska.
- The car has excellent cruise control.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly metaphorical: 'Their marketing campaign was a cruise missile aimed at our customer base.'
Academic
Used in political science, international relations, and military technology papers.
Everyday
Almost exclusively in news consumption about conflicts or geopolitics.
Technical
Frequent in military, defence, and aerospace engineering contexts with precise classifications (e.g., subsonic, land-attack).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cruise missile”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cruise missile”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cruise missile”
- Misspelling as 'cruize missile'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'They cruise-missiled the base' is non-standard).
- Confusing it with a 'ballistic missile', which has a different trajectory.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A ballistic missile is launched on a high, arching trajectory (like throwing a ball), while a cruise missile flies like an airplane at low altitude for most of its journey.
No, it is strictly a compound noun. The related verb is 'to cruise'.
The BGM-109 Tomahawk, a long-range, subsonic missile used extensively by the US military.
No. It is a technical/military term that becomes common in general discourse only during news coverage of conflicts or geopolitical tensions.
A guided missile designed to fly at low altitude, following a pre-programmed path to its target.
Cruise missile is usually technical, military, political, journalism in register.
Cruise missile: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkruːz ˌmɪsaɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkruz ˌmɪsəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Metaphorical] He was like a cruise missile, homing in on the flaw in the argument.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a ship on a 'cruise' – it travels steadily to a destination. A 'cruise missile' does the same, but through the air to a target.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PRECISE TOOL IS A GUIDED MISSILE (e.g., 'His criticism was a cruise missile aimed at the proposal's weak point.').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary defining characteristic of a cruise missile?