airplane
Americannoun
-
airplanes
plural
-
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.
See Examples For:
“In an airplane where it’s pretty quiet, it’s very easy for the entire cabin to hear what’s going on,” Louie said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
"The pilots remain in control of the airplane," Bedford said of the new software defect.
From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026
The Federal Aviation Administration told airplane passengers to check its website for travel updates, telling AFP there is "always a chance for restrictions depending on the weather."
From Barron's ● Sep. 25, 2026
But after landing safely, I think I’ll start keeping my life on airplane mode a little longer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
Hours later, Soviet officials met him at the police station and then hustled him onto a small airplane bound for Moscow.
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
It’s not just about attracting casual fans to watch the icon whose face adorns everything from airplanes to skin care products.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026
The kinds of actuators currently made at scale in the U.S. are designed for airplanes or cars, experts say.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 2, 2026
The risk of even a partial shutdown is immense for Boeing’s core business of building passenger airplanes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
Soybean oil becomes biodiesel and aviation fuel, powering school buses and commercial airplanes.
From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026
Or in the army, diving out of airplanes.
From "Ghost Boys" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
