fuselage

noun

fu·​se·​lage ˈfyü-sə-ˌläzh 

-zə-

: the central body portion of an aircraft designed to accommodate the crew and the passengers or cargo see airplane illustration

Examples of fuselage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The sensors can be integrated inside an aircraft’s fuselage or mounted on the wings of larger surveillance drones. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 14 July 2026

Parts from the engine hit the plane, damaging the fuselage and breaking a passenger window, according to the official. — Clara McMichael, ABC News, 10 July 2026

Retired Rear Admiral Faisal Shah told the AP the search for the main fuselage could take months or even years because the aircraft is believed to have crashed in waters about 9,800 feet deep, requiring specialized equipment. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 9 July 2026

SpaceX uses a different approach on Starship, with Starlinks riding inside the vehicle’s fuselage, then ejecting through a small door on the side like a Pez dispenser. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 9 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, from fuselé "spindle-shaped" (from past participle of fuseler "to give the shape of a spindle to," going back to Middle French, derivative of fusel "spindle," diminutive of fus "spindle," going back to Latin fūsus, of obscure origin) + -age -age

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fuselage

• auge
• hodge
• podge
• dislodge
• hodgepodge

Kids Definition

fuselage

noun

fu·​se·​lage ˈfyü-sə-ˌläzh 

ˈfyü-zə-

: the central body portion of an airplane that holds the crew, passengers, and cargo