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

In a statement, ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the incident should serve as a reminder for skydivers to be mindful of their handles, especially when exiting an aircraft. —CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025

Fearing that the aircraft was about to crash, the pilot worked hard to regain full control of the plane. —Max Saltman, CNN Money, 11 Dec. 2025

After breaking free of the aircraft, the skydiver was able to deploy the main parachute and land — though not without facing some complications. —Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 11 Dec. 2025

The plane is also American's first single-aisle aircraft to feature international-style premium economy seating, arranged with two seats on each side of the aisle in every row. —Zach Wichter, USA Today, 11 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing aircraft

• aircraft carrier
• rotary-wing aircraft

Rhymes for aircraft

• abaft
• camshaft
• crankshaft
• downdraft
• engraft
• priestcraft
• redraft
• schoolcraft
• spacecraft
• stagecraft
• statecraft
• updraft

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