plural flybys
1
: a prearranged usually low-altitude flight by one or more airplanes over a public gathering (such as an air show)
2
a
: a flight of a spacecraft past a celestial body (such as Mars) close enough to obtain scientific data
b
: a spacecraft that makes a flyby
Examples of flyby in a Sentence
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Big science haul Hunting for impact flashes was one of many science tasks for the astronauts during their historic April 6 flyby.
—
Leonard David, Space.com, 8 May 2026
Voice recordings that the Artemis II astronauts made during their flyby of the moon will also eventually be available there, along with a user’s guide compiled by the mission’s science team to help researchers make the most of the information.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 4 May 2026
The army opened an inquiry into the flyby to assess the legality of the demonstration, and the crew members involved were suspended.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 2 May 2026
The astronauts also witnessed sights of the moon's far side never seen with the unaided eye during a historic lunar flyby April 6.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
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Leonard David, Space.com, 8 May 2026
Voice recordings that the Artemis II astronauts made during their flyby of the moon will also eventually be available there, along with a user’s guide compiled by the mission’s science team to help researchers make the most of the information.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 4 May 2026
The army opened an inquiry into the flyby to assess the legality of the demonstration, and the crew members involved were suspended.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 2 May 2026
The astronauts also witnessed sights of the moon's far side never seen with the unaided eye during a historic lunar flyby April 6.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flyby
Cite this Entry
“Flyby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flyby. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
flyby
noun
fly·by
-ˌbī 
plural flybys
1
: a usually low-altitude flight past a chosen place by one or more aircraft
2
a
: a flight of a spacecraft past a heavenly body (as Mars) close enough to obtain scientific information
b
: a spacecraft that makes a flyby
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