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 rate of spread was slowed after water-dropping aircraft arrived to help ground crews. —Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026

That could mean using drones to monitor a ship's movements, using intelligence to know a ship's origin or destination, using reconnaissance aircraft like the E-2 Hawkeye or helicopters that are launched from an aircraft carrier. —Luis Martinez, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026

Sathishkumar claimed to the outlet that his family was ultimately prohibited from boarding the aircraft. —Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026

Passengers seated there are considered part of the aircraft’s emergency response and are expected to assist if needed. —Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026

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