contrail
noun
con·trail
ˈkän-ˌtrāl 
: streaks of condensed water vapor created in the air by an airplane or rocket at high altitudes
Examples of contrail in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There is also no evidence that plane contrails cause health problems or are related to intentional efforts to control the climate, according to the EPA and other scientists.
—
Stephanie Armour, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
Just 3% of flights create 80% of the impact, and contrails only form in certain areas of the atmosphere.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Jets trailing red, white, and blue contrails soared above the castle as a military band performed below, culminating in a synchronized crescendo as the aircraft passed overhead.
—Amanda Castro
hannah Parry
shane Croucher
jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Vintage fabric samples—tweeds, linens, a sky-blue poplin with white contrail stripes—hung from a rack against a wall.
—Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrail
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Stephanie Armour, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
Just 3% of flights create 80% of the impact, and contrails only form in certain areas of the atmosphere.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Jets trailing red, white, and blue contrails soared above the castle as a military band performed below, culminating in a synchronized crescendo as the aircraft passed overhead.
—Amanda Castro
hannah Parry
shane Croucher
jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Vintage fabric samples—tweeds, linens, a sky-blue poplin with white contrail stripes—hung from a rack against a wall.
—Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrail
Cite this Entry
“Contrail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contrail. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
contrail
noun
con·trail
ˈkän-ˌtrāl
: a stream of visible water or ice particles created in the air by an airplane or rocket at high altitudes
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