English Reference

Word

ballistics

Phoneticsbal·lis·tics

US/bəˈɫɪstɪks/

UK/bɐlˈɪstɪks/

Definition

n. the study of how objects move through the air, especially when they are fired from a gun or thrown. It looks at things like speed, direction, and how far something travels.

n. the branch of physics concerned with the motion of projectiles, including the effects of gravity and air resistance. Often used in the context of military science or forensic analysis.

Examples

“The police used ballistics to match the bullet to the suspect's gun.”

“Military engineers study ballistics to improve the accuracy and range of long-range artillery systems.”

“Advanced ballistics research has led to the development of non-lethal rounds that can incapacitate a target without causing permanent physical damage to the surrounding environment.”

Examples

simple

“The police used ballistics to match the bullet to the suspect's gun.”

contextual

“Military engineers study ballistics to improve the accuracy and range of long-range artillery systems.”

complex

“Advanced ballistics research has led to the development of non-lethal rounds that can incapacitate a target without causing permanent physical damage to the surrounding environment.”

Real-World Examples

“The weapon is currently being analysed by ballistics experts in France in connection with the al-Hilli cold case.”
The Guardian · 2 Sept 2026
“In an interview with Serhiy Sternenko, former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov said Ukraine’s best response to Russian ballistics was to rush its own successfully tested ballistic missile into production and engage in “counter-ballistic warfare”.”
Al Jazeera · 14 Aug 2026

Etymology

From ballista + -ics. By surface analysis, ballistic + -s.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

ballisticAdjectiveballisticsNoun

Domain

Physics

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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