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

Earlier Friday, the National Transportation Safety Board revealed more information about the crash, detailing the final moments in the cockpit of the UPS plane based on a review of the audio from the cockpit voice recorder. —Clara McMichael, ABC News, 8 Nov. 2025

Like, the whole cockpit was lit up — lights, sirens. —Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025

The 85-footer retains the brand’s classic DNA, with a long, lean profile, and the prolific use of teak, which not only covers the cockpit but defines the interior salon and dining area on the floors, bulkheads, and ceilings. —Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 7 Nov. 2025

Investigators have recovered the cockpit flight recorder and the flight data recorder, National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman said, in hopes of finding out more about Tuesday's tragic accident just outside of Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. —Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 6 Nov. 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