preflight

1 of 3

adjective

pre·​flight ˈprē-ˌflīt How to pronounce preflight (audio)
: preparing for or preliminary to flight (as of an aircraft)
a preflight inspection

preflight

2 of 3

verb

preflighted; preflighting; preflights

transitive verb

: to inspect (an aircraft) before a flight

preflight

3 of 3

noun

: a preflight inspection of an aircraft

Examples of preflight in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
American Airlines noted that drivers should never assume a pilot can see them, especially in high-traffic areas such as aprons and ramps, where crews are occupied with critical preflight checks. Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 16 Apr. 2026 Their preflight notions were replaced by the reality of their experience. Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
Meanwhile, Penn wakes up four hours preflight, works out, does laundry, gets gas (and gas station hot dogs) and boards last. The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026 Astronaut Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen entered NASA’s standard preflight medical quarantine Friday. Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 21 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for preflight

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1942, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1945, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of preflight was in 1942

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Preflight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preflight. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.

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