flyby

noun

fly·​by ˈflī-ˌbī 

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

Recent Examples on the Web

And beyond our atmosphere, the Artemis II astronauts set a record Monday as the farthest humans from Earth during a lunar flyby promising magnificent views of the far side never before witnessed. —Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2026

After all, the flyby was a rare research opportunity. —Mike Wall, Space.com, 7 Apr. 2026

Now, the Artemis II mission — involving a flyby rather than a landing on the moon — renews and rejuvenates our nation’s commitment to space exploration. —Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026

Later in the flyby, the astronauts were treated to a very special solar eclipse. —Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for flyby

• apply
• awry
• belie
• bely
• bigeye
• bonsai
• buckeye
• comply
• coxae
• decry
• defy
• deny

Kids 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