zeppelin

noun

zep·​pe·​lin ˈze-p(ə-)lən 

: a rigid airship consisting of a cylindrical trussed and covered frame supported by internal gas cells

broadly : airship

Illustration of zeppelin

Examples of zeppelin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Guerrero dreams of terraforming with lasers, electric zeppelins, and forging collaborations in optics, energy efficiency, and space technology. —Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025

And then, in a more whimsical, fantastical register: Why not a hot air balloon or even a zeppelin? —Nicole Trilivas, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025

The final fight takes the Zorin zeppelin to the very highest spans, where Bond and Zorin duke it out with an axe. —EW.com, 24 May 2025

Key Moment: For a transportation buff, flying over the Bavarian Alps in a zeppelin. —Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 12 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for zeppelin

• kraepelin

Kids Definition

zeppelin

noun

zep·​pe·​lin ˈzep-(ə-)lən 

: a long cylindrical passenger balloon that has a metal frame and is driven through the air by engines carried on its underside

Biographical Definition

Zeppelin

biographical name

Zep·​pe·​lin ˌtse-pə-ˈlēn 

ˈze-p(ə-)lən

Ferdinand (Adolf August Heinrich) 1838–1917 Graf von Zeppelin German general and aeronaut