: the structure of an aircraft, rocket vehicle, or missile without the power plant
also
: aircraft
Examples of airframe in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The system features an all-composite airframe with a cylindrical fuselage and delta wings.
—
Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 18 Dec. 2025
Its massive Olympus engines could have pushed the envelope further but to go any faster would have heated the airframe beyond safety limits.
—New Atlas, 13 Dec. 2025
The generator, which didn't have fuel, was loaded in the aft baggage compartment and secured to the airframe with webbing.
—Briauna Brown, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025
The company decided to establish manufacturing facilities for serial production of its airframes, propulsion units, and flight controls.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for airframe
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 18 Dec. 2025
Its massive Olympus engines could have pushed the envelope further but to go any faster would have heated the airframe beyond safety limits.
—New Atlas, 13 Dec. 2025
The generator, which didn't have fuel, was loaded in the aft baggage compartment and secured to the airframe with webbing.
—Briauna Brown, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025
The company decided to establish manufacturing facilities for serial production of its airframes, propulsion units, and flight controls.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for airframe
Cite this Entry
“Airframe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airframe. Accessed 23 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
airframe
noun
air·frame
ˈa(ə)r-ˌfrām 
ˈe(ə)r-
: the structure of an aircraft, rocket vehicle, or missile without the engine and related parts
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share