warplane

noun

war·​plane ˈwȯr-ˌplān How to pronounce warplane (audio)
: a military airplane
specifically : one armed for combat

Examples of warplane in a Sentence

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.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the new warplanes would send a strong message about America's commitment to remaining a global leader in military aviation. Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 22 Mar. 2025 In recent years, Taiwan has come under growing military and other pressure from China, which sends warplanes and naval vessels toward the island almost daily. Peter Guo, NBC News, 17 Mar. 2025 Russian warplanes were spotted flying off the coast of Alaska, the North American Aerospace Defense Command said Tuesday, marking the latest incident involving Russian military activity being tracked by the U.S. military near the state. Stephen Smith, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2025 Russian warplanes targeted the bridges along the border, aiming to cut off the likeliest evacuation routes. David Axe, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for warplane

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1911, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of warplane was circa 1911

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Cite this Entry

“Warplane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/warplane. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.

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