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

Almost immediately after takeoff, the two men began consuming alcohol, cocaine, and marijuana in the cockpit, her filing alleges. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 20 Jan. 2026

New England looked nothing like Old England, with stars everywhere and Tom Brady in the cockpit. —Troy Renck, Denver Post, 19 Jan. 2026

The honor was granted thanks to a combination of the airline's young fleet, advancements in cockpit safety, the carrier's crash-free history, and the lowest incident rate per flight of any airline listed, according to Airline Ratings. —Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026

Instead of a conventional cockpit, the cabin functions as a visible, load-bearing mechanical system. —Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 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
• amrit
• armpit
• backlit
• befit
• commit
• dalit
• dendrite
• emit
• illite
• misfit

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