cockpit

noun

cock·​pit ˈkäk-ˌpit 

1

a

: a pit or enclosure for cockfights

b

: a place noted for especially bloody, violent, or long-continued conflict

2

obsolete : the pit of a theater

3

: a compartment in a sailing warship used as quarters for junior officers and for treatment of the wounded in an engagement

4

: a space or compartment in a usually small vehicle (such as a boat, airplane, or automobile) from which it is steered, piloted, or driven see airplane illustration

Examples of cockpit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The atrium runs from the aft cockpit to the main salon, creating a single architectural volume between the interior and exterior and the main and lower decks. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 1 Sep. 2026

Then, in 2023, as NASA brought the worm out of retirement, the logo regained its place on the tail, and the insignia (meatball) was moved to the body under the cockpits. — Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026

Another shows someone climbing into a helicopter, stepping from a roof terrace, onto the landing gear and then into the cockpit, after appearing to take off their t-shirt to wave and attract the aircraft’s attention. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026

Automation takes center stage The Gen3’s cockpit may become its most significant upgrade. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing cockpit

• cockpit voice recorder

Rhymes for cockpit

• acquit
• admit
• armpit
• backlit
• befit
• commit
• dalit
• dendrite
• emit
• illite
• misfit
• moonlit

Kids Definition

cockpit

noun

cock·​pit ˈkäk-ˌpit 

: a space or compartment in a usually small vehicle (as a boat, airplane, or automobile) from which it is steered, piloted, or driven