jet engine

noun

: an engine that produces motion as a result of the rearward discharge of a jet of fluid

specifically : an airplane engine that uses atmospheric oxygen to burn fuel and produces a rearward discharge of heated air and exhaust gases see airplane illustration

Examples of jet engine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In a conventional jet engine, fuel is burned to heat incoming air. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 22 June 2026

They’re used in a wide range of products, including smartphones, semiconductors, electric vehicles and jet engines. — ABC News, 20 June 2026

Getty Images For one weekend, one of America’s most secure and strategically important military installations stopped sounding like jet engines and started sounding like stock cars. — Greg Engle, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026

Ukraine has also depleted Russia's stocks by forcing it to try and intercept regular volleys of newer, more capable drones, including some equipped with jet engines that are faster and fly further than older models. — Aidan Stretch, CBS News, 17 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

jet engine

noun

: an engine that produces motion as a result of the rearward discharge of a jet of fluid

especially : an aircraft engine that uses atmospheric oxygen to burn fuel and produces a rearward discharge of heated air and exhaust gases