spacecraft

noun

space·​craft ˈspās-ˌkraft 

: a vehicle or device designed for travel or operation outside the earth's atmosphere

Examples of spacecraft in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The next-generation spacecraft will fit atop currently available rockets, Taylor said, while the one after that will likely be sized to fly on SpaceX's Starship megarocket. —Mike Wall, Space.com, 10 Mar. 2026

The monumental scale and engineering complexity of the alien spacecraft alone are breathtaking, its intricate design hinting at the metal-rich composition of its home planet. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026

Bits of space debris fly through orbit at up to 18,000 mph, threatening to collide with functioning spacecraft and posing safety risks to astronauts on the International Space Station. —Denise Chow, NBC news, 10 Mar. 2026

For years until fuel expired, the spacecraft and its twin, Van Allen Probe B, flew through the region ringed with particles trapped by Earth's magnetic field to understand more about them. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for spacecraft

• allograft
• autograft
• autographed
• countershaft
• handicraft
• homograft
• hovercraft
• lithographed
• overdraft
• photographed
• rotorcraft
• telegraphed

Kids Definition

spacecraft

noun

space·​craft ˈspā-ˌskraft 

plural spacecraft

: a vehicle for travel beyond the earth's atmosphere