Word
ballistic
Phoneticsbal·lis·tic
US/bəˈɫɪstɪk/
UK/bɐlˈɪstɪk/
Definitions
01extremely angry
adj. to become suddenly and extremely angry, often shouting or losing control.
adj. to become extremely and uncontrollably angry; typically used in the phrase 'go ballistic'.
“My boss went ballistic when he found out we lost the important client.”
“The manager went ballistic after discovering the accounting error, demanding an immediate explanation from the entire department.”
Slang · Informal
Usage
Usually follows the verb 'go'.
Pitfall
He was ballistic at me.
He went ballistic when he saw me.
This slang sense is almost always used with the verb 'go' rather than 'be'.
Teaching tip
While common in spoken English, this is very informal; students should avoid it in academic or professional writing.
02relating to projectiles
adj. relating to objects, like bullets or rockets, that are shot or thrown through the air.
adj. relating to the flight of projectiles moving under their own momentum and gravity without significant lift.
“The scientists studied the ballistic path of the rocket after its engines stopped.”
“Forensic experts conducted a ballistic analysis of the fragments to determine the trajectory of the projectile.”
Technical
Usage
Often used in compound terms like 'ballistic missile' or 'ballistic trajectory'.
Teaching tip
This is the original scientific meaning; in this context, it is a neutral, technical term.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Princess Diana's brother said King Charles "went ballistic" during a phone call with him in the days after his sister's death.” “His parents would "go ballistic" at him for what they believed was a waste of money.” Etymology
From Latin ballista (“a military siege engine for throwing stones”) + -ic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Collocations
Word family
Idioms
ballistic podiatry — The act of shooting oneself in the foot.
go ballistic — To become very angry and irrational.