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 design also separates the aircraft’s core structure from its mission equipment. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026

What would actually matter is if the 200-aircraft commitment announced back in May becomes a firm order from a Chinese airline. — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026

The first pre-production ES-36 aircraft is currently under construction at Heart’s pilot manufacturing plant in Los Angeles, with first flight expected in the second half of 2028 and entry into service in 2031. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 23 Sep. 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