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

Much of the show is filmed in a Toronto studio equipped with a cockpit, a cabin, and a full air-traffic-control center. — Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Badly injured, Captain Machchhar somehow opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers to overpower al-Hammami, and two off-duty pilots to take control of the plane and land it in Saudi Arabia. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 10 Oct. 2026

The Indian captain opened the cockpit door after being attacked with an ax so that passengers could restrain the terrorist co-pilot. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026

Further aft, the cockpit is equipped with fold-down side bulwarks that open to create an expansive alfresco entertaining area by the sea. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 5 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing cockpit

• cockpit voice recorder

Rhymes for cockpit

• acquit
• admit
• armpit
• backlit
• befit
• commit
• dalit
• dendrite
• emit
• illite
• misfit
• moonlit

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