airplane
Americannoun
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a heavier-than-air aircraft kept aloft by the upward thrust exerted by the passing air on its fixed wings and driven by propellers, jet propulsion, etc.
-
any similar heavier-than-air aircraft, as a glider or helicopter.
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of airplane
1870–75, for an earlier sense; alteration of aeroplane, with air 1 replacing aero-
Compare meaning
How does airplane compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
An airplane is a flying vehicle that has fixed wings and engines or propellers that thrust it forward through the air. It's most common when you travel long distances to take an airplane. An airplane is the form of transportation you'll probably choose when you need to go from New York to California — it's the fastest and safest way to get there. Commercial airplanes are flown by a pilot and staffed by a crew. In Britain, it's still called an aeroplane, from the Greek aero-, "air," and French planer, "to soar," by way of the French aéroplane.
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.
I’ve found that when I get on an airplane I’m getting noticed a little bit more now.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 22, 2026
“If you take care of an airplane, you can fly them forever,” said Ross Aimer, a retired United Airlines pilot and chief executive of Aero Consulting Experts.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2026
But, he added, “if you take care of an airplane, you can fly them forever, basically.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026
The sheriff said the plane was not a commercial airliner, and rather "a local airplane that took off from our local airport."
From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026
There were wind tunnels, airstrips, and other facilities where researchers tested airplane parts and theories of math and science.
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
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.
