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Synonyms

aircraft carrier

American  

noun

  1. a warship equipped with a large open deck for the taking off and landing of warplanes and with facilities to carry, service, and arm them.

aircraft carrier British  

noun

  1. a warship built with an extensive flat deck space for the launch and recovery of aircraft

"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 carrier

First recorded in 1915–20

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.

The aircraft carrier has around 20 Rafale fighter jets and is escorted by several frigates.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

Normally that’s a recipe for trouble, but the aircraft carrier known as the U.S. economy shows little sign of taking on water.

From MarketWatch • May 2, 2026

The logistical surge appears to be a stream of Boeing C-17 military transport aircraft making their way to the region, alongside the addition of a third aircraft carrier.

From Los Angeles Times • May 2, 2026

Each “Book” occupies one side of a long bilateral vitrine, which commands the narrow gallery like a berthed aircraft carrier.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

Alex took off like a fighter jet launched off an aircraft carrier.

From "Eleven" by Tom Rogers

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.