aircraft

noun

air·​craft ˈer-ˌkraft 

plural aircraft

often attributive

: a vehicle (such as an airplane or balloon) for traveling through the air

Examples of aircraft in a Sentence

a company that manufactures aircraft

Recent Examples on the Web

The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of more than 900 African-American military pilots and airmen who flew combat aircraft in World War II. —Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Mar. 2025

Past winners include the Wright brothers, the team behind the first aircraft to break the sound barrier, and the first moon landing in 1969. —Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025

Drones are classified as aircraft, and taking one down violates the Aircraft Sabotage Act. —James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2025

According to Southwest, the passengers were accommodated on another aircraft for their flight to Albany, and no injuries were reported. —Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing aircraft

• aircraft carrier
• rotary-wing aircraft

Rhymes for aircraft

• abaft
• camshaft
• crankshaft
• downdraft
• engraft
• priestcraft
• redraft
• schoolcraft
• spacecraft
• stagecraft
• statecraft
• updraft

Kids Definition

aircraft

noun

air·​craft ˈa(ə)r-ˌkraft 

ˈe(ə)r-

plural aircraft

: a machine (as an airplane, glider, or helicopter) that can travel through the air and that is supported either by its own buoyancy or by the action of the air against its surfaces