aircraft
Americannoun
-
aircraft
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of aircraft
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How does aircraft compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A machine that can fly, held aloft in the air, is called an aircraft. Airplanes and helicopters are two types of aircraft. Some aircraft, such as helicopters, fly by using rotary wings — spinning blades that directly generate lift. Airplanes use engines to turn propellers or power gas turbines, providing the thrust needed to move air over their wings and create lift. Still other aircraft, including hot-air balloons, achieve lift through buoyancy, by using gases that are lighter than the surrounding air. Balloons and airships, including blimps and dirigibles, were actually the first vehicles referred to as aircraft, a term adapted from nautical terminology.
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.
Just months after getting off the ground, the airline has evacuated all aircraft from its home base and has halted almost all flying over the past two weeks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026
And while the report said the unnamed person making the report was “fairly reliable” due to his association with “military jet aircraft activities,” local astronomers said that Jupiter could possibly explain the sighting.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is deploying more maritime patrol aircraft, drones and radar systems to the Black Sea.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026
In addition to military aircraft, the government said it would also spend £45m on wildfire-specific personal protective equipment for firefighters on the ground.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
There were usually about twenty or thirty aircraft to a regiment, with a similar number of pilots to fly them.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
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