contrail

noun

con·​trail ˈkän-ˌtrāl How to pronounce contrail (audio)
: 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
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Google is using artificial intelligence to predict where these condensation trails, or contrails, are likely to form if planes pass through. ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026 Twenty-five thousand LED bulbs glowed from the span’s suspender cables, creating patterns that looked like a meteor contrail or a flash of sunlight off Salesforce Tower. Rachel Swan, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Mar. 2026 Pronouncements blazed forth from him but evanesced, leaving only contrails. Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026 The spectacle fades to a faint streak across a robin’s egg canvas, the contrail widening and then fading away. Eric Barton, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contrail

Word History

Etymology

condensation trail

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of contrail was in 1943

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Contrail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contrail. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

contrail

noun
con·​trail ˈkän-ˌtrāl How to pronounce contrail (audio)
: a stream of visible water or ice particles created in the air by an airplane or rocket at high altitudes

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