test pilot
noun
: a pilot who specializes in putting new or experimental airplanes through maneuvers designed to test them (as for strength) by producing strains in excess of normal
Examples of test pilot in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
He was assigned to duty as a test pilot in Burbank, California, after three combat tours in the South Pacific.
—
CBS News, 26 Mar. 2024
Boeing’s new Starliner capsule with test pilots is due in late April.
—Marcia Dunn, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024
The film follows Armstrong’s life from his days as a NASA test pilot to his role in the Gemini rocket program, and of course, his famous journey to the moon on the Apollo 11 spacecraft.
—Keith Langston, Peoplemag, 9 Mar. 2024
Ferrier was a longtime test pilot who had worked at several aircraft firms, including one in the East Bay.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2024
The company behind the 737 Max, a plane its own test pilots infamously derided as designed by clowns and supervised by monkeys, wants to be known for quality and safety once again.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024
Be enrolled in a test pilot school program, nationally or internationally recognized, that will be completed by June 2025.
—Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2024
Victor Glover, a test pilot with combat experience over Iraq, is far removed from aircraft carriers, fighter jets and boyhood dreams of traveling into space.
—Scott Neuman, NPR, 27 Feb. 2024
Applicants must also have experience working in STEM – with a master's in engineering, math, biology or other sciences and professional experience or at least two years of doctoral work in these areas or a test pilot program.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2024
CBS News, 26 Mar. 2024
Boeing’s new Starliner capsule with test pilots is due in late April.
—Marcia Dunn, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024
The film follows Armstrong’s life from his days as a NASA test pilot to his role in the Gemini rocket program, and of course, his famous journey to the moon on the Apollo 11 spacecraft.
—Keith Langston, Peoplemag, 9 Mar. 2024
Ferrier was a longtime test pilot who had worked at several aircraft firms, including one in the East Bay.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2024
The company behind the 737 Max, a plane its own test pilots infamously derided as designed by clowns and supervised by monkeys, wants to be known for quality and safety once again.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024
Be enrolled in a test pilot school program, nationally or internationally recognized, that will be completed by June 2025.
—Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2024
Victor Glover, a test pilot with combat experience over Iraq, is far removed from aircraft carriers, fighter jets and boyhood dreams of traveling into space.
—Scott Neuman, NPR, 27 Feb. 2024
Applicants must also have experience working in STEM – with a master's in engineering, math, biology or other sciences and professional experience or at least two years of doctoral work in these areas or a test pilot program.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'test pilot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1917, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near test pilot
Cite this Entry
“Test pilot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/test%20pilot. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
test pilot
noun
: a pilot who puts new aircraft through tests
More from Merriam-Webster on test pilot
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for test pilot
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share