thruster

noun

thrust·​er ˈthrə-stər 

variants or less commonly thrustor

: one that thrusts

especially : an engine (such as a jet engine) that develops thrust by expelling a jet of fluid or a stream of particles

Examples of thruster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Attachments are the perks of Hugh’s suit, including thrusters, mod slots and the Overdrive Protocol, a sort of ultimate move that builds over time and hacks enemies around the two. —Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2026

As for grunt, the Super Sub packs an electric motor, a 62 kWh lithium battery, and four thrusters with a total output of 100 kW that together push it to a top speed of nine knots. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 16 Mar. 2026

Once the Dragon separated from the rocket, the vehicle used its own thrusters to navigate its way to the International Space Station. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026

Shortly after the launch, however, mission managers detected helium leaks in the capsule’s propulsion system, and then several thrusters malfunctioned as the spacecraft tried to dock with the space station. —Denise Chow, NBC news, 19 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for thruster

• bluster
• buster
• cluster
• duster
• juster
• luster
• lustre
• muster
• trustor
• adjuster
• baluster
• blockbuster

Kids Definition

thruster

noun

thrust·​er ˈthrəs-tər 

: one that thrusts

especially : an engine that produces thrust by discharging a jet of fluid or a stream of particles