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Synonyms

aircraft

American  
[air-kraft, -krahft] / ˈɛərˌkræft, -ˌkrɑft /

noun

plural

aircraft

  1. any machine supported for flight in the air by buoyancy or by the dynamic action of air on its surfaces, especially powered airplanes, gliders, and helicopters.

aircraft British  
/ ˈɛəˌkrɑːft /

noun

  1. any machine capable of flying by means of buoyancy or aerodynamic forces, such as a glider, helicopter, or aeroplane

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of aircraft

First recorded in 1840–50; air 1 + craft

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.

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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.

Army decay in the snow-covered valley near the abandoned remains of an aircraft hangar.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

Air traffic control is crucial to maintaining safety for aircraft going in and out of airports.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

For him, the future of private air defence lies in drone interceptors -- small unmanned aircraft designed to destroy incoming drones mid-air.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

A small aircraft carrying two people crashed Thursday afternoon on Catalina Island, fire officials said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Navy aircraft carrier more than 1,092 feet long and carrying about 3,200 crew members, it had been on its way to South Korea to participate in naval maneuvers when the earthquake hit Japan.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland

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.