wingspan

noun

wing·​span ˈwiŋ-ˌspan How to pronounce wingspan (audio)
: the distance from the tip of one of a pair of wings to that of the other
also : span sense 2c

Examples of wingspan in a Sentence

The hawk has a wingspan of about three feet. a plane with a 200-foot wingspan
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.
The wingspan on Yesavage’s 6-foot-4 frame creates an optical illusion for hitters. Andy McCullough, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025 Charlotte basketball lore is all over the walls of the arena, from murals of Larry Johnson being drafted, to fans measuring their arms against LaMelo Ball‘s wingspan. Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2025 Quetzalcoatlus northropi, for example, was a species of pterosaur with a wingspan of about 36 feet, rivaling small planes and considered the largest flying animal known to science, according to the release. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2025 Historically, the birds — which grow to be as large as 20-plus pounds with a wingspan over nine feet — flew freely throughout the West Coast into British Columbia in the 1800s. Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wingspan

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1917, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wingspan was circa 1917

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Cite this Entry

“Wingspan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wingspan. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

wingspan

noun
wing·​span ˈwiŋ-ˌspan How to pronounce wingspan (audio)
: the distance between the tips of a pair of wings (as of a bird or an airplane)

More from Merriam-Webster on wingspan

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