test pilot

noun

: a pilot who specializes in putting new or experimental airplanes through maneuvers designed to test them (as for strength) by producing strains in excess of normal

Examples of test pilot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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He was later accepted and became a combat fighter pilot and qualified for the test pilot program at Edwards AFB. John Baldoni, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025 Four astronauts returned to Earth after hustling to the International Space Station five months ago to relieve the stuck test pilots of Boeing’s Starliner. Jeremy Mikula, NBC news, 10 Aug. 2025 Navy test pilot, Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8 and, of course, Apollo 13. Jack Smart, People.com, 9 Aug. 2025 Born on March 25, 1928, in Cleveland, Lovell had served as a naval air test pilot when he was first selected as an astronaut by NASA in 1962. Greg Evans, Deadline, 8 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for test pilot

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of test pilot was in 1917

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Cite this Entry

“Test pilot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/test%20pilot. Accessed 7 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

test pilot

noun
: a pilot who puts new aircraft through tests

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