propeller

noun

pro·​pel·​ler prə-ˈpe-lər 

variants or less commonly propellor

: one that propels

especially : a device that consists of a central hub with radiating blades placed and twisted so that each forms part of a helical surface and that is used to propel a vehicle (such as a ship or airplane)

Examples of propeller in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Reports of understaffing extend back to the FAA’s early years, when the agency strove to handle the transition from slower propeller aircraft to the faster and more efficient jets that rapidly transformed the industry. —Colleen Mondor, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026

Wing, which flies parcels attached to a white and yellow drone with many helicopter-like propellers, did not give a date for the launch or list specific cities. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2026

The subject matter – dogs, ducks, propeller planes – seems exactly the sort of thing that might attract the eye of a little girl. —The Week Uk, TheWeek, 13 Mar. 2026

The stern was the targeted for major artifact recoveries from 1998 to 2002, including the removal of the engine, propeller, and turret for preservation at The Mariners’ Museum and Park in Newport News, Virginia. —Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

propel + -er entry 2

First Known Use

1780, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing propeller

• propeller-head
• screw propeller

Rhymes for propeller

• bestseller
• bookseller
• flagellar
• impeller
• lamellar
• micellar
• modeller
• ocellar
• patellar
• reseller
• scutellar
• beller

Kids Definition

propeller

noun

pro·​pel·​ler prə-ˈpel-ər 

: a device consisting of a hub fitted with blades that is made to turn rapidly by an engine and is used especially for propelling airplanes and ships