flyby

noun

fly·​by ˈflī-ˌbī 

plural flybys

1

: a prearranged usually low-altitude flight by one or more airplanes over a public gathering (such as an air show)

2

a

: a flight of a spacecraft past a celestial body (such as Mars) close enough to obtain scientific data

b

: a spacecraft that makes a flyby

Examples of flyby in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Numerous Canadians played front-line roles on Artemis 2, including Gibbons serving as capcom during the lunar flyby. — Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 7 July 2026

The irony here is thick, because while there were captive flamingos, escaped captive flamingos, and the occasional storm refugee along with sightings of coastal flybys, there were no longer any wild breeding birds. — Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 6 July 2026

This flyby of 1998 KY26 would occur sometime in July 2031 if the spacecraft proceeds nominally. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 6 July 2026

From a cache of images released by NASA this spring that were taken by Artemis II astronauts during a lunar flyby in April. — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for flyby

• apply
• awry
• belie
• bely
• bigeye
• bonsai
• buckeye
• comply
• coxae
• decry
• defy
• deny

Kids Definition

flyby

noun

fly·​by -ˌbī 

plural flybys

1

: a usually low-altitude flight past a chosen place by one or more aircraft

2

a

: a flight of a spacecraft past a heavenly body (as Mars) close enough to obtain scientific information

b

: a spacecraft that makes a flyby