noun

ballistics

buh-LIHST-ihks

Ballistics (noun) means the scientific study of how projectiles like bullets or rockets move through the air. Example: “Forensic ballistics helped police match the bullet to the gun.”

noun

The scientific study of how projectiles like bullets or rockets move through the air.

"Forensic ballistics helped police match the bullet to the gun."

"The course covers the ballistics of long-range rifle shots."

How to use ballistics

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe science of how fired or thrown objects travel and behave.

Common pairings

forensic ballistics ballistics expert ballistics report

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Fill the gap

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Forensic _____ helped police match the bullet to the gun.

Etymology

Built from ballista (a stone-throwing siege engine) plus the -ics ending used for fields of study.

Synonyms

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ballistic trajectory

Rhymes for ballistics

logistics statistics linguistics

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Frequently asked questions

What does “ballistics” mean?

The word “ballistics” means the scientific study of how projectiles like bullets or rockets move through the air. In plain terms, the science of how fired or thrown objects travel and behave.

How do you pronounce “ballistics”?

“Ballistics” is pronounced buh-LIHST-ihks (/bəˈlɪst.ɪks/ in IPA).

How do you use “ballistics” in a sentence?

Here is “ballistics” used in a sentence: “Forensic ballistics helped police match the bullet to the gun.”

What part of speech is “ballistics”?

“Ballistics” is a noun.