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.

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aircraft carrier British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of aircraft carrier

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

France's aircraft carrier the Charles de Gaulle was on Wednesday heading towards the southern Red Sea to pre‑position for a possible mission to restore navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, Paris said.

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

With the arrival of a third aircraft carrier in the region, American military options are expanding.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

All of them were looking up toward the north where the transport plane would come; the plane bearing the father who had flown off an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean for a year.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

Related Words

• carrier
• warship