Definition

Noun: A long-range guided ballistic missile designed for nuclear weapons delivery, capable of being launched from one continent and striking a target on another continent. It follows a sub-orbital spaceflight trajectory.

Usage

This term is used in military, geopolitical, and technical contexts to describe a specific class of strategic weapon system. It is often abbreviated as ICBM.

Examples

• The development of an intercontinental ballistic missile significantly altered the strategic balance during the Cold War.
• Modern intercontinental ballistic missiles are equipped with multiple independent reentry vehicles (MIRVs).
• The treaty aimed to reduce the number of deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Advanced Usage

• Deterrence theory: The possession of intercontinental ballistic missiles is a central pillar of nuclear deterrence, based on the principle of mutually assured destruction.
• Launch phases: The flight of an intercontinental ballistic missile is typically described in phases: boost, mid-course (in space), and re-entry.

Variants and Related Words

• ICBM (noun): The standard acronym for .
• Ballistic Missile (noun): A broader category of missile that follows a ballistic trajectory, which includes shorter-range systems.
• SLBM (Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile) (noun): A ballistic missile launched from a submarine, which may also have intercontinental range.

Synonyms

• Strategic missile
• Long-range ballistic missile

Related Phrases

• ICBM silo: A fortified underground launch facility for an intercontinental ballistic missile.
• ICBM early warning system: A network of radar and satellites designed to detect the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Noun

1. a ballistic missile that is capable of traveling from one continent to another