aeronautics
Americannoun
noun
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The design, construction and operation of aircraft.
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The scientific study of flight through the atmosphere.
Etymology
Origin of aeronautics
1820–25; < New Latin aeronautica or French aéronautique; see aero-, nautical, -ics
Explanation
If you have a passion for airplanes and other aircraft, you might be destined for a career in aeronautics, which is the study and design of flying machines within the atmosphere. Whether your interest lies in building aircraft or flying planes, you can describe your area of interest as aeronautics. The term aviation can also be used, although it typically doesn't include airships or dirigibles, like blimps and zeppelins. The word aeronautics literally means "sailing the air," from the Greek roots aero, "air," and nautikē, "navigation."
Vocabulary lists containing aeronautics
Flying High: Aviation Words
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Elements of the Universe: Aer, Aero ("Air")
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aer, aero
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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.
Six small airports in western Colombia suspended operations, the civil aeronautics agency said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026
Lockheed said it had higher volumes and munitions ramp ups across all its units, including aeronautics, missiles and fire control, space, and rotary and mission systems.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Among the company’s business segments, second-quarter sales for aeronautics, which includes the F-35 fighter jet, rose 9.3% to $8.11 billion, besting the FactSet consensus of $7.61 billion.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
But as warm and fuzzy as his ruminations on aeronautics are, Travolta’s nostalgic eye is best served by his intimate character writing.
From Salon ● Jun. 2, 2026
But the shift in attitude and in public responsibility at the laboratory were as distinct in character as the golden age of aeronautics of the 1950s would be from the space-age 1960s.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
Definitions 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.
