parachute

1 of 2

noun

para·​chute ˈper-ə-ˌshüt 

ˈpa-rə-

1

: a device for slowing the descent of a person or object through the air that consists of a fabric canopy beneath which the person or object is suspended

2

: patagium

3

: a device or structure suggestive of a parachute in form, use, or operation

parachutic

ˌper-ə-ˈshü-tik 

ˌpa-rə-

adjective

parachute

2 of 2

verb

parachuted; parachuting

transitive verb

: to convey by means of a parachute

intransitive verb

: to descend by means of a parachute

Examples of parachute in a Sentence

Noun

The pilot was wearing a parachute.

The supplies were dropped by parachute.

Verb

The soldiers parachuted in and quickly hid their gear.

New troops parachuted into enemy territory.

We will parachute supplies in after you arrive.

New troops were parachuted into enemy territory.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Less than five months after D.B. Cooper's hijacking, McCoy hijacked a United Airlines flight using a nearly identical method, including a ransom demand, a Boeing 727 with a rear airway and a parachute escape. —Christina Coulter, People.com, 4 July 2025

This weekend, the National Mall in Washington, D.C. will play host to the largest military parade in the U.S. in decades, replete with thousands of soldiers, tanks, parachute jumpers, artillery and dramatic flyovers from vintage warplanes. —Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 13 June 2025

Verb

Will and Sam parachute to safety yet the plane crashes. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 3 July 2025

There is stabbing and shooting before Derringer and Clarke parachute out of the flaming plane together. —Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from French, from para- (as in parasol parasol) + chute "fall" — more at chute

Verb

derivative of parachute entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1784, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1809, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing parachute

• golden parachute
• parachute pants

Rhymes for parachute

• absolute
• arrowroot
• attribute
• bitterroot
• constitute
• convolute
• destitute
• disrepute
• dissolute
• execute
• institute
• involute

Kids Definition

parachute

1 of 2 noun

para·​chute ˈpar-ə-ˌshüt 

1

: a folding umbrella-shaped device of light fabric used especially for making a safe jump from an aircraft

2

: something (as the bunch of hairs on a dandelion seed) that is like a parachute in form, use, or operation

parachute

2 of 2 verb

parachuted; parachuting

: to transport or come down by means of a parachute

parachutist

-ˌshüt-əst

noun