What does interceptor mean?
An interceptor is a person, vehicle, aircraft, missile, or device that stops or diverts something else before it reaches its destination. The term is especially associated with military aviation and defence: a fighter aircraft may be described as an interceptor when its role is to engage hostile aircraft, while an interceptor missile is designed to destroy an incoming missile or other projectile. More broadly, the word can refer to any agent that intercepts communication, movement, or a planned course. In such general contexts, it is more formal and less common than the verb “intercept,” but it conveys the idea of active prevention rather than merely meeting or encountering something. The word derives from the same Latin roots as “intercept,” “capture,” and “caption,” all of which involve taking or catching.
nounA person, vehicle, aircraft, missile, or other object that intercepts or attempts to stop something else. The term is especially common for a fighter aircraft or missile designed to prevent an enemy aircraft, projectile, or vehicle from continuing on its course.
- A person, vehicle, aircraft, missile, or device designed to stop or divert something else.
- An aircraft, especially a military fighter, intended to engage or prevent hostile aircraft from completing a mission.
- A missile or other defensive system designed to intercept an incoming projectile, aircraft, or missile.
"The fighter pilot intercepted the enemy aircraft before it reached the restricted airspace."
"The ship launched an interceptor missile to destroy the approaching rocket."
"The pilot was trained as an interceptor in the air force."
The plural is formed by adding -s; “interceptors” commonly refers to military aircraft or defensive systems.
"Several interceptors were scrambled to meet the approaching aircraft."
An interceptor gets its name from the Latin root for “catching”: its role is to catch another object before it reaches its destination.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does interceptor come from?
The word “interceptor” was formed in English from the Latin prefix inter-, meaning “between” or “among,” together with the Latin root capere, meaning “to take” or “to seize.” The related verb “intercept” developed from the same components and means to stop, seize, or divert something in its course. The Latin root also gives English words such as “capture,” “captive,” and “caption,” although these developed along different semantic paths.
Related word forms
How interceptor is actually used
The word is most common in military, aviation, and defence contexts. It can sound technical or institutional in general writing, while “interceptor aircraft” may suggest a fast military aircraft designed to engage other aircraft.
Easily confused with interceptor
An interceptor is an agent or object that does the intercepting, whereas intercept is the action of stopping or diverting something.