rotorcraft

noun

ro·​tor·​craft ˈrō-tər-ˌkraft How to pronounce rotorcraft (audio)
plural rotorcraft
: an aircraft (such as a helicopter) whose lift is derived principally from rotating airfoils

Examples of rotorcraft in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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These rotorcraft can conduct reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, and electronic surveillance without risking human crews. Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025 Ames was chosen because of NASA’s established vertical flight research facilities — including the world’s largest wind tunnel — and the existing expertise base of NASA engineers familiar with rotorcraft R&D challenges. Mike Hirschberg, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025 The New Orleans is a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock that can carry up to 800 marines in addition to amphibious assault platforms like hovercraft and V-22 Osprey rotorcraft. John Feng shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025 Amidst an atmosphere of refined revelry catering to glitterati and gearheads alike, this iteration at the Monterey Jet Center featured 275 automobiles and fourteen flying machines—from rotorcraft to private jets. Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 14 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rotorcraft

Word History

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rotorcraft was in 1929

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Cite this Entry

“Rotorcraft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rotorcraft. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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