wingspan

American  

[wing-span] / ˈwɪŋˌspæn /

noun

1. the distance between the wing tips of an airplane.

2. wingspread.

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wingspan British  

/ ˈwɪŋˌspæn, ˈwɪŋˌsprɛd /

noun

1. the distance between the wing tips of an aircraft, bird, etc

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Etymology

Origin of wingspan

First recorded in 1915–20; wing + span ¹

Explanation

To find a bird's wingspan, you need to measure the distance from the tip of one outstretched wing to the other. An eagle has a much larger wingspan than a sparrow. Anything with two wings has a wingspan, which is one way to get a sense of its size. So birds and butterflies can be measured for wingspan, but so can airplanes. A flying squirrel can have a wingspan of over a foot, and some hummingbirds have wingspans that are barely over an inch. Sports commentators often mention the wingspan of basketball players — in this case, they're referring to the distance between a player's outstretched fingertips.

Example Sentences

The jet is 64 feet long with a 43-foot wingspan.

From Barron's • Mar. 2, 2026

With a razor-sharp banana for a beak and a wingspan surpassing 6 feet, there aren’t many flying things on this continent that can top it.

From Slate • Feb. 21, 2026

And the best available data, such as wingspan or 40-yard dash time, have little to do with actual blocking or tackling.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026

MD-11s are just over 61 metres long and have a wingspan of 52 metres, smaller than Boeing 747s , which are roughly 76 metres long and have a wingspan of 68 metres.

From BBC • Nov. 4, 2025

It took all Cap’s wingspan to move the huge steering wheel, swinging the bus into a tight right and speeding off down the street.

From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman