aircraft

noun

air·​craft ˈer-ˌkraft 

plural aircraft

often attributive

: a vehicle (such as an airplane or balloon) for traveling through the air

Examples of aircraft in a Sentence

a company that manufactures aircraft

Recent Examples on the Web

The first- and second-place winning pilots, both Californians, crashed Sunday at the National Air Race Championships, possibly because of an aircraft blind spot, glare from the sun or even a brief moment of lost focus, experts said. —Scott Sonner, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2023

As a result, when Japanese aircraft began attacking U.S. facilities at Midway, American aircraft carriers were already lying in wait. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Sep. 2023

There was also noise pollution from park visitors, aircraft, and military activity. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Sep. 2023

In late 2021, Alaska Airlines and zero-emissions engine developer ZeroAvia announced plans to create a hydrogen-electric powertrain capable of flying a 76-seat regional aircraft. —Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Sep. 2023

After initially saying the jet had been left in autopilot when the pilot ejected from the aircraft, Jeremy Huggins, a spokesman at Joint Base Charleston, later told NBC News that authorities did not know whether that was the case and were still investigating the matter. —Sam Brock, NBC News, 20 Sep. 2023

One country might even destroy another country's SRM aircraft, leading to a sudden rebound of warming and perhaps war. —Douglas Fox, Scientific American, 19 Sep. 2023

Their post included an image of the vintage aircraft turned over with its wheels up in a grassy field. —Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2023

Under the direction of the air traffic controllers, the Southwest aircraft flew approximately 950 feet to the side and 200 feet above the SkyWest plane before making a landing at San Diego International Airport, the NTSB disclosed. —Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing aircraft

• aircraft carrier
• rotary-wing aircraft

• aircraft carrier
• rotary-wing aircraft

Kids Definition

aircraft

noun

air·​craft ˈa(ə)r-ˌkraft 

ˈe(ə)r-

plural aircraft

: a machine (as an airplane, glider, or helicopter) that can travel through the air and that is supported either by its own buoyancy or by the action of the air against its surfaces