flyby

noun

fly·​by ˈflī-ˌbī 

plural flybys

1

: a prearranged usually low-altitude flight by one or more airplanes over a public gathering (such as an air show)

2

a

: a flight of a spacecraft past a celestial body (such as Mars) close enough to obtain scientific data

b

: a spacecraft that makes a flyby

Examples of flyby in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The probe just made its sixth flyby of Mercury on Jan. 8. —Tariq Malik, Space.com, 3 Feb. 2025

In the case of Apophis, further observations eventually allowed astronomers in 2021 to rule out the possibility of an impact when the asteroid makes a close flyby to Earth in 2029 and again in 2036. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024

The Juno spacecraft continues to contribute new insights about Jupiter and its moons, having recently completed a flyby over Jupiter’s swirling cloud tops on November 24. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024

Scientists will be able to more accurately study all aspects of the asteroid, and thus refine their predictions, during its next flyby in 2028. —Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

flyby

noun

fly·​by -ˌbī 

plural flybys

1

: a usually low-altitude flight past a chosen place by one or more aircraft

2

a

: a flight of a spacecraft past a heavenly body (as Mars) close enough to obtain scientific information

b

: a spacecraft that makes a flyby