fighter pilot

American  

[fahy-ter pahy-luht] / ˈfaɪ tər ˌpaɪ lət /

noun

Military.

1. a pilot trained to fly aircraft classified as fighters and to engage in aerial combat.

   The last surviving member of this celebrated squadron of fighter pilots has died, at age 92.

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Etymology

Origin of fighter pilot

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Did he share a fake video of himself as a fighter pilot dumping human waste on No Kings protesters?

From Salon • May 24, 2026

Tom Vo was born in Vietnam, served as a fighter pilot for the Army of the Republic of Vietnam and moved to Southern California as a refugee after the Vietnam War.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Hansen, a 50-year-old former fighter pilot on his maiden voyage into space, said he saw "some extraordinary things" during the first hours aboard the Orion.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

MIAMI—Before he emerged as the best young pitcher on the planet, Paul Skenes dreamed of becoming a fighter pilot.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

Bull Meecham died as a pilot, as a Marine, as a Marine fighter pilot.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy