aircraft

noun

air·​craft ˈer-ˌkraft How to pronounce aircraft (audio)
plural aircraft
often attributive
Synonyms of aircraftnext
: 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 has regularly sent military aircraft near Alaska. — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025 Investigators also recovered black boxes from both aircraft. — Kerry Breen, CBS News, 11 Mar. 2025 Instead, Ukraine’s military was able to reposition matériel to avoid Russian strikes and shoot down a troop transport aircraft. — The Editors, National Review, 11 Mar. 2025 An aircraft alledgedly carrying US businessman Donald Trump Jr. arrives in Nuuk, Greenland on January 7, 2025. — Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 11 Mar. 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

Phrases Containing aircraft

Rhymes for aircraft

See All Rhymes for aircraft

Browse Nearby Words

aircraft
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Cite this Entry

“Aircraft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aircraft. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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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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