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 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 Wilmore, a Naval officer and test pilot who served in 21 combat missions, joined NASA’s astronaut corps in 2000. Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025 Susan Kilrain, former NASA astronaut: Kilrain is a former NASA astronaut, navy test pilot and one of only three women to pilot the space shuttle. Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 13 June 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 21 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

test pilot

noun
: a pilot who puts new aircraft through tests

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