aircraft

noun

air·​craft ˈer-ˌkraft How to pronounce aircraft (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Russia is known to have placed tires on the wings of its aircraft throughout the war, trying to fend off Ukrainian drone attacks. Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025 Zelenskyy said that 34% of Russia's cruise missile-carrying aircraft were hit. David Brennan, ABC News, 2 June 2025 The meeting comes after the two countries each launched large-scale drone attacks on one another over the weekend, including an audacious Ukrainian strike on Russia's bomber aircraft fleet. Charles Maynes, NPR, 2 June 2025 But Earhart had actually stepped out of the rear of the aircraft, and a man whom Putnam had identified to the press as her mechanic could be seen sitting in the cockpit. Laurie Gwen Shapiro, New Yorker, 2 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for aircraft

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aircraft was in 1845

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Aircraft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aircraft. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

aircraft

noun
air·​craft ˈa(ə)r-ˌkraft How to pronounce aircraft (audio)
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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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