aerospace

American  

[air-oh-speys] / ˈɛər oʊˌspeɪs /

noun

1. the atmosphere and the space beyond considered as a whole.

2. the industry concerned with the design and manufacture of aircraft, rockets, missiles, spacecraft, etc., that operate in aerospace.

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adjective

1. of or relating to aerospace or the aerospace industry.

aerospace British  

/ ˈɛərəˌspeɪs /

noun

1. the atmosphere and space beyond

2. (modifier) of or relating to rockets, missiles, space vehicles, etc, that fly or operate in aerospace

   the aerospace industry

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aerospace Scientific  

/ âr′ō-spās′ /

1. Relating to the Earth's atmosphere and the space beyond.

2. Relating to the science and technology of flight and space travel.

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Etymology

Origin of aerospace

First recorded in 1955–60; aero- + space

Explanation

The science of airplanes and rockets is known as aerospace. If you're interested in launching rockets or building jets, you should consider a career in aerospace. The term aerospace was coined in the U.S. during the mid-20th century, from aeronautics, the study of planes and other flying machines, and spaceflight. The aerospace industry includes a lot of flying craft, including commercial airplanes, unpowered gliders, military jets, missiles, and space shuttles. Aerospace engineers design these vehicles and develop ways to make them safer and more efficient, as well as testing and maintaining them.

Example Sentences

Google’s stake in SpaceX now stands at 6.11% of the aerospace giant’s shares, according to a biennial report the company filed with Alaska’s Commerce Department last week, which was initially reported by Bloomberg.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

The funding has helped launch defense and aerospace startups across Southern California, including Costa Mesa autonomous weapons maker Anduril Industries, now valued at more than $30 billion.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

"It's a pride - you don't realise the impact of what we're doing in the aerospace industry - but now with Artemis II it's a real pride," he said.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

The outlook for commercial aerospace is solid, with Airbus and Boeing delivering too few jets since the Covid-19 pandemic, partly due to supply chain issues and partly due to Boeing’s internal issues.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

Thirty-six years old, an aerospace engineer by training, he was a quiet, thoughtful, extremely conscientious guide who was well liked by most members of his team and Hall’s.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer