astronaut

American  

[as-truh-nawt, -not] / ˈæs trəˌnɔt, -ˌnɒt /

noun

1. a person engaged in or trained for spaceflight.

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astronaut British  

/ ˈæstrəˌnɔːt /

noun

1. a person trained for travelling in space See also cosmonaut

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astronaut Cultural  

1. A crew member of a space mission launched by the United States. (See Apollo program and Mercury program.)

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Etymology

Origin of astronaut

1925–30; astro- + (aero)naut, probably via French astronaute; astronautical

Compare meaning

How does astronaut compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• cosmonaut vs. astronaut

Example Sentences

On Friday, the space agency said that its Artemis II mission, which would see astronauts sent to the moon for the first time in 50 years, could launch as early as 6 March.

From BBC

The Artemis II mission will see four astronauts embark on a 10-day journey around the far side of the Moon and back to Earth, paving the way for a future lunar landing.

From BBC

Nasa has labelled the botched 2024 Starliner mission, which left two astronauts stranded in space for months, a "Type A" mishap, on par with fatal shuttle disasters of the past, in a newly published report.

From BBC

National Aeronautics and Space Administration leaders said the agency disregarded crew safety by pushing ahead with the failed Starliner mission in 2024, which waylaid astronauts for months at the International Space Station.

From The Wall Street Journal

Ailments like anemia, kidney stones and osteoporosis can arise as well, and most returning astronauts can barely walk under the sudden chains of gravity.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cosmonaut
• pilot