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
AerAware departs from traditional head-up displays and instead equips both pilots with a dual wearable system that delivers the same information to each cockpit seat.
—
Amalia Roy, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2026
There are many reasons for this – not the least of which is that ditching the pilot and the cockpit itself opens up the opportunity to not only simplify the design of the aircraft, but also free up valuable cargo space and reduce weight.
—David Szondy
june 21, New Atlas, 21 June 2026
Video taken at the scene appeared to show bystanders racing over to the crash to help, including two people who used a sledgehammer and a shovel to break into the cockpit.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026
While making ergonomic improvements to the CJ4 Gen3 cabin, for instance, Citation added a glass cockpit that will enhance its reputation as the light-jet leader for single pilots.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for cockpit
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Amalia Roy, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2026
There are many reasons for this – not the least of which is that ditching the pilot and the cockpit itself opens up the opportunity to not only simplify the design of the aircraft, but also free up valuable cargo space and reduce weight.
—David Szondy
june 21, New Atlas, 21 June 2026
Video taken at the scene appeared to show bystanders racing over to the crash to help, including two people who used a sledgehammer and a shovel to break into the cockpit.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026
While making ergonomic improvements to the CJ4 Gen3 cabin, for instance, Citation added a glass cockpit that will enhance its reputation as the light-jet leader for single pilots.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for cockpit
Cite this Entry
“Cockpit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cockpit. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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