aeronautics

noun

aero·​nau·​tics ˌer-ə-ˈnȯ-tiks 

-ˈnä-

plural in form but singular in construction

1

: a science dealing with the operation of aircraft

2

: the art or science of flight

aeronautical

ˌer-ə-ˈnȯ-ti-kəl 

-ˈnä-

adjective

or less commonly aeronautic

ˌer-ə-ˈnȯ-tik 

-ˈnä-

aeronautically

ˌer-ə-ˈnȯ-ti-k(ə-)lē 

-ˈnä-

adverb

Examples of aeronautics in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lefebvre himself is a bit of a suit who spent 19 years as a finance executive at an aeronautics firm before joining Cirque. —Phil Wahba, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2024

Though many companies eye Morocco as a source for comparatively cheap labor, the industry and government have worked to train skilled workers at IMA, an institute for aeronautics professions in Casablanca. —Sam Metz, Quartz, 23 Apr. 2024

The committee will hear from three panel members, including Tracy Dillinger, a NASA expert on safety culture, Javier de Luis, an aeronautics expert at MIT, and Najmedin Meshkati, a University of Southern California professor and expert on aviation safety. —David Shepardson, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024

About two weeks ago, Lockheed announced that 300 employees within its aeronautics division would be laid off, including 200 workers at the Fort Worth F-35 assembly plant. —Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

aeronautic "of or relating to the art or science of flight" (borrowed from New Latin aëronauticus, from Greek aero- aero- + nautikós "of ships, of seafaring") + -ics — more at nautical

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

aeronautics

noun

aero·​nau·​tics ˌar-ə-ˈnȯt-iks 

ˌer-

1

: a science dealing with the operation of aircraft

2

: the art or science of flight

aeronautical

-ˈnȯt-i-kəl 

adjective