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 aircraft has kept a vital spot in the Air Force for two main reasons, Birkey said. — Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026

Under this framework, mission autonomy software can evolve independently from the aircraft carrying it. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 June 2026

The aircraft went down while on a test mission in support of a radar modernization program, generating a large plume of smoke visible from miles away. — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 18 June 2026

And the Project Sunrise aircraft is fitted with an additional 20,000-litre fuel tank that enables the plane to fly more than 16,000 kilometers, up to 22 hours non-stop. — Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 18 June 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