cockpit

noun

cock·​pit ˈkäk-ˌpit 

1

a

: a pit or enclosure for cockfights

b

: a place noted for especially bloody, violent, or long-continued conflict

2

obsolete : the pit of a theater

3

: a compartment in a sailing warship used as quarters for junior officers and for treatment of the wounded in an engagement

4

: a space or compartment in a usually small vehicle (such as a boat, airplane, or automobile) from which it is steered, piloted, or driven see airplane illustration

Examples of cockpit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While the speed at which artificial intelligence (A.I.) is pervading mainstream society could seemingly break the sound barrier, aviation authorities are taking a slower, more cautious approach to its potential applications in the cockpit. —Daniel Cote, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 2025

Investigators will also examine cockpit switch positions and instrument readings, the agency said. —Alexandra Skores, CNN, 6 Feb. 2025

In 2019, the Texarkana Gazette reported that a man allegedly tried to steal a plane to see a concert in Illinois and was arrested after he was found sitting in the pilot's seat in the cockpit. —Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2025

The jet’s anti-collision technology alerted pilots to the potential disaster, sounding the alarm in the cockpit to immediately move the plane to a higher altitude. —Emily Steel, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing cockpit

• cockpit voice recorder

Rhymes for cockpit

• acquit
• admit
• amrit
• armpit
• backlit
• befit
• commit
• dalit
• dendrite
• emit
• illite
• misfit

Kids Definition

cockpit

noun

cock·​pit ˈkäk-ˌpit 

: a space or compartment in a usually small vehicle (as a boat, airplane, or automobile) from which it is steered, piloted, or driven