drogue

noun

ˈdrōg 

1

: sea anchor

2

a

: a cylindrical or funnel-shaped device towed as a target by an airplane

b

: a small parachute for stabilizing or decelerating something (such as an astronaut's capsule) or for pulling a larger parachute out of stowage

3

: a funnel-shaped device which is attached to the end of a long flexible hose suspended from a tanker airplane in flight and into which the probe of another airplane is fitted so as to receive fuel from the tanker

Examples of drogue in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ten minutes later, the capsule's drogue parachutes deployed as planned, followed in short succession by its three big main chutes. —Mike Wall, Space.com, 11 Apr. 2026

First, two smaller drogue parachutes that are 23 feet in diameter will unfurl at an altitude of 22,000 feet to slow the capsule from about 25,000 mph to 307 mph, according to NASA. —Paris Barraza, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026

Orion will jettison its forward bay cover and deploy its drogue parachutes near 22,000 feet. —Miles Doran, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026

At about 22,000 feet, the first two drogue parachutes will deploy that will slow Orion down to about 200 mph. —Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably alteration of drag entry 2

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for drogue

• bogue
• brogue
• vogue
• prorogue

Kids Definition

drogue

noun

ˈdrōg 

: a parachute for slowing down or stabilizing something (as an astronaut's capsule) or for pulling out a larger parachute