quadcopter

noun

quad·​cop·​ter ˈkwäd-ˌkäp-tər 

plural quadcopters

: a drone (see drone entry 1 sense 2) deriving lift from four separate rotors each oriented about a vertical axis : quadrotor

It's a quadcopter, meaning it's a miniature helicopter with four rotors; basically it looks like a giant four-leaf clover designed by Darth Vader.

—Lev Grossman

A remote control quadcopter-type model helicopter flew directly through the U.S. Coast Guard base at the Arcata-Eureka Airport in McKinleyville on Saturday afternoon …

—Eureka Times Standard (California)

Examples of quadcopter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Then, in November 2024, Abu Safiya was reportedly injured in his office during an Israeli quadcopter strike, resulting in shrapnel injuries to his thigh and back that caused serious bleeding, according to the humanitarian NGO MedGlobal. — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 20 June 2026

This affordable drone shares many of the features and settings that its more expensive and advanced quadcopter counterparts. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 3 June 2026

The catalog covers interceptors aimed at Russian UAVs and missiles, reconnaissance quadcopters for surveillance and fire adjustment, and medium-class strike drones for engaging targets at range. — Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

Both sides deploy plane-like unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, as well as quadcopters. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

quad entry 5 + -copter (in helicopter entry 1)

First Known Use

2004, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for quadcopter

• adopter
• copter
• helicopter