astronaut

noun

as·​tro·​naut ˈa-strə-ˌnȯt 

-ˌnät

plural astronauts

: a person whose profession is to travel beyond the earth's atmosphere

NASA on Wednesday introduced the group of astronauts it has chosen for upcoming missions to the moon. The program, called Artemis, aims to send people back to the moon for the first time since the end of NASA's Apollo program in 1972.

—Kenneth Chang

broadly : any person who travels beyond the earth's atmosphere

William Shatner, the 90-year-old actor of "Star Trek" fame, endured a 10-minute, rocket-powered ride to the edge of space … . In that moment, at least one thing became certain: Yes, a nonagenarian can be an astronaut.

—Jackie Wattles

Word Icons

Examples of astronaut in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the new space race, three Chinese astronauts returned to Earth today after a six-month stay on the Tiangong space station, part of China’s effort to be a global leader in exploration beyond this planet. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 4 Nov. 2024

How do astronauts cast a ballot on the space station? —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024

There was a sublimely silly video in which Mulaney plays a ground control officer trying to help a chimp astronaut return to Earth early in the show. —Omar L. Gallaga, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024

The Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, known locally as the Big Mac bridge, was dedicated in 1977, with the governors of Kentucky and Ohio, astronaut Neil Armstrong and then-U.S. Sen. John Glenn on hand, the Enquirer reported at the time. —Aaron Valdez, The Enquirer, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

astro- + -naut (in aeronaut)

Note: See note at astronautics.

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

astronaut

noun

as·​tro·​naut ˈas-trə-ˌnȯt 

-nät

: a traveler in a spacecraft

astronautic

ˌas-trə-ˈnȯt-ik

adjective

or astronautical

-i-kəl,

-nät-

Etymology

from astro- "star, heavens" (derived from Greek astron "star") and -naut (derived from Greek nautēs "sailor," from naus "ship") — related to nausea, nautical see Word History at nausea