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

"This the first time anyone has conceived using fire whirls for oil spill remediation, and it's really just the beginning," said Oran, professor of aerospace engineering in the College of Engineering.

From Science Daily • Jun. 5, 2026

Southern California has been a hub for aerospace and defense tech companies, including Costa Mesa-based Anduril Industries, which reached a $61-billion valuation this year.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026

Applied Aerospace is a midtier supplier for the aerospace and defense industry.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

IPOs have been mostly in preferred sectors, with plenty of enthusiasm for anything related to artificial intelligence as well as aerospace and defense, energy, and biotechnology startups.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026

She found work as an editor for an aerospace company.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times