aircraft
Americannoun
-
aircraft
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of aircraft
Compare meaning
How does aircraft compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A machine that can fly, held aloft in the air, is called an aircraft. Airplanes and helicopters are two types of aircraft. Some aircraft, such as helicopters, fly by using rotary wings — spinning blades that directly generate lift. Airplanes use engines to turn propellers or power gas turbines, providing the thrust needed to move air over their wings and create lift. Still other aircraft, including hot-air balloons, achieve lift through buoyancy, by using gases that are lighter than the surrounding air. Balloons and airships, including blimps and dirigibles, were actually the first vehicles referred to as aircraft, a term adapted from nautical terminology.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Authorities there "carried out the necessary security checks on the aircraft and passengers", a spokesperson for Wizz Air said.
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026
SINGAPORE—In 1998, a shadowy entertainment company based in the gambling hub of Macau made an unusual purchase: an aircraft carrier.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
None of the aircraft had flown through San Salvador in the previous twelve months.
From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026
The aircraft reportedly took off from the Hindu pilgrimage site of Badrinath on Friday afternoon before losing contact.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026
When they got there, the field was almost empty—all the other aircraft had been cleared away until the next night.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
