preflight

1 of 3

adjective

pre·​flight ˈprē-ˌflīt 

: preparing for or preliminary to flight (as of an aircraft)

a preflight inspection

preflight

2 of 3

verb

preflighted; preflighting; preflights

transitive verb

: to inspect (an aircraft) before a flight

preflight

3 of 3

noun

: a preflight inspection of an aircraft

Examples of preflight in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The rocket reached an orbit approximately 280 miles (450 kilometers) high at an inclination of 60 degrees to the equator, quite close to preflight predictions. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 24 July 2026

The panic from the occupants struggling to grab floatation devices helped spur aviation-safety reforms, including mandatory preflight passenger briefings and improvements involving flotation equipment. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026

Noun

Don’t Overdo the Booze While a preflight or in-flight cocktail might sound like a good idea to calm jangled nerves, both experts caution against overusing alcohol to manage anxiety in the air. — Jill Robbins, Travel + Leisure, 5 June 2026

American Airlines noted that drivers should never assume a pilot can see them, especially in high-traffic areas such as aprons and ramps, where crews are occupied with critical preflight checks. — Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 16 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1942, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1945, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1950, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for preflight

• affright
• airtight
• albite
• alight
• alright
• aplite
• aright
• bainite
• birthright
• bobwhite
• bornite
• bullfight