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

Huot said the mission includes long legs to and from Mars, with the flyby lasting just two hours. —Tariq Malik, Space.com, 22 May 2026

But scientists should be able to calibrate the mission’s instruments by comparing flyby observations with archival data from other Mars missions. —Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 20 May 2026

The close flyby will be streamed live online by the Virtual Telescope Project, led by Italian astronomer Gianluca Masi. —Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026

This flyby acts like a gravitational assist, reducing the need for engine thrust at key moments. —Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 17 May 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