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

When the responders arrived at the frozen river, the plane’s fuselage was partially submerged and suitcases and other possessions were strewn about. —Gary Fields, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026

The aircraft, a WB-57 operated by NASA, touched down without its landing gear extended and slid along the runway on its fuselage. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026

The aircraft with its distinct thin fuselage is the NASA WB-57. —CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026

Meanwhile, Vulovic, who was initially trapped inside the broken fuselage by a food cart, fell more than six miles to the ground, where tree cover and snow softened the landing of the broken aircraft, according to the outlets. —Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 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