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
When high ambient temperatures are combined with the heat from the racing surface and vehicle engines, drivers can face cockpit temperatures of 50 to 60°C (122-140°F).
—
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
New York — The National Transportation Safety Board is now investigating after two Delta Air Lines regional jets collided on the taxiway at New York’s LaGuardia Airport Wednesday night, with the wing of one aircraft slamming into the cockpit windows of the other.
—Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
According to the outlet, Princess Kate had ascended the stairs for a closer look at the cockpit and appeared to assure her guide that her shoes wouldn't stop her.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
Given the temperatures and humidity, the cockpit can feel like a sauna, Russell said.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cockpit
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Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
New York — The National Transportation Safety Board is now investigating after two Delta Air Lines regional jets collided on the taxiway at New York’s LaGuardia Airport Wednesday night, with the wing of one aircraft slamming into the cockpit windows of the other.
—Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
According to the outlet, Princess Kate had ascended the stairs for a closer look at the cockpit and appeared to assure her guide that her shoes wouldn't stop her.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
Given the temperatures and humidity, the cockpit can feel like a sauna, Russell said.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cockpit
Cite this Entry
“Cockpit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cockpit. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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