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

With Operation Midnight Hammer—a complex operation involving hundreds of aircraft and naval vessels, several dozen Tomahawk missiles, and 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrators—America joined Israel’s campaign against Iran’s nuclear program. —Nr Editors, National Review, 27 June 2025

Riva’s iconic Italian style will now be weaved into two aircraft in Flexjet’s fleet, under the name Riva Volare. —Katia Damborsky, Robb Report, 27 June 2025

Trump has also announced that the U.S. is working to expand tariffs to other sectors, including pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and commercial aircraft. —Arkansas Online, 26 June 2025

The Concorde, a supersonic aircraft, marked a significant milestone in aviation history but ultimately ended service in 2003. —Zach Wichter, USA Today, 26 June 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