cosmonaut

noun

cos·​mo·​naut ˈkäz-mə-ˌnȯt 

-ˌnät

: an astronaut of the Soviet or Russian space program

Examples of cosmonaut in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The engrossing alternative history novel unfolds during the historic Apollo-Soyuz linkup between American astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts. —Jeff Spry, Space.com, 20 Sep. 2025

Also aboard the station is NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, who reached the ISS in April with cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025

Along the way, Beijing has reiterated its plans to land its cosmonauts on the Moon before 2030 for scientific exploration — squarely throwing the gauntlet Stateside, where NASA’s Artemis program also scheduled a mission to return U.S. astronauts on lunar ground around 2027. —Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2025

Roscomos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov making his first flight. —Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Russian kosmonavt, from Greek kosmos + Russian -navt (as in aeronavt aeronaut)

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cosmonaut

• aeronaut
• aforethought
• afterthought
• apricot
• argonaut
• astronaut
• camelot
• coffeepot
• concordat
• entrepot
• flowerpot
• huguenot

Kids Definition

cosmonaut

noun

cos·​mo·​naut ˈkäz-mə-ˌnȯt 

-ˌnät

: a Soviet or Russian astronaut