seaplane

noun

sea·​plane ˈsē-ˌplān How to pronounce seaplane (audio)
Synonyms of seaplanenext
: an airplane designed to take off from and land on the water

Examples of seaplane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Beginning in 2016, the company initially proposed a design in which the wings and fuselage are integrated into a single lifting surface as a way of improving the payload of cargo seaplanes without going down the increasingly unpopular jumbo route. David Szondy february 10, New Atlas, 10 Feb. 2026 Back in the days of seaplanes and propeller flights, travelers waited out bad weather for hours, cold and damp. Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026 The island of Ellaidhoo is located 26 miles west of the capital, Malé, and is only accessible via seaplane or boat. Clare Fisher, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026 Some visitors push farther still, boarding seaplanes to Dry Tortugas National Park, where Fort Jefferson rises from impossibly blue water like a mirage. Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for seaplane

Word History

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of seaplane was in 1913

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Seaplane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seaplane. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

seaplane

noun
sea·​plane ˈsē-ˌplān How to pronounce seaplane (audio)
: an airplane designed to take off from and land on the water
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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