aircraft

noun

air·​craft ˈer-ˌkraft 

plural aircraft

often attributive

: a vehicle (such as an airplane or balloon) for traveling through the air

Examples of aircraft in a Sentence

a company that manufactures aircraft

Recent Examples on the Web

Engineers will initially run the engine horizontally while the aircraft rests on its launch and recovery vehicle. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026

The Air Force's older MQ-1 Predators have largely been retired, but if Iran has in fact shot down 10 of the aircraft, the loss would still equate to roughly $40 million. — CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026

The elevator controls the up and down pitch of the aircraft and is located in the aircraft’s tail, Chapman said. — Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026

The helicopters were identified as an Air Dynasty aircraft and a Fishtail Air aircraft, the aviation authority said. — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing aircraft

• aircraft carrier
• rotary-wing aircraft

Rhymes for aircraft

• abaft
• camshaft
• crankshaft
• downdraft
• engraft
• priestcraft
• redraft
• schoolcraft
• spacecraft
• stagecraft
• statecraft
• updraft

Kids Definition

aircraft

noun

air·​craft ˈa(ə)r-ˌkraft 

ˈe(ə)r-

plural aircraft

: a machine (as an airplane, glider, or helicopter) that can travel through the air and that is supported either by its own buoyancy or by the action of the air against its surfaces