cockpit

noun

cock·​pit ˈkäk-ˌpit 

1

a

: a pit or enclosure for cockfights

b

: a place noted for especially bloody, violent, or long-continued conflict

2

obsolete : the pit of a theater

3

: a compartment in a sailing warship used as quarters for junior officers and for treatment of the wounded in an engagement

4

: a space or compartment in a usually small vehicle (such as a boat, airplane, or automobile) from which it is steered, piloted, or driven see airplane illustration

Examples of cockpit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The company seems to be going the whole hog with this because the image released of the prototype doesn't appear to have a cockpit, suggesting that the military version will be uncrewed and not a passenger carrier. —New Atlas, 22 Nov. 2025

Post-modern art installations to either side of the flush-deck entryway from the cockpit further highlight this boat’s desire to be at the avant-garde of superyacht design—as did the David Lynch coffee table book perched in the middle of the space. —Kevin Koenig, Robb Report, 21 Nov. 2025

Emerson's actions endangered dozens of people and exposed vulnerabilities in cockpit safety protocols at a time when the aviation industry faces mounting concerns over staffing and safety infrastructure. —Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Nov. 2025

After Emerson left the cockpit, the pilots landed at Portland International Airport, where he was taken into custody. —Alex Sundby, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing cockpit

• cockpit voice recorder

Rhymes for cockpit

• acquit
• admit
• amrit
• armpit
• backlit
• befit
• commit
• dalit
• dendrite
• emit
• illite
• misfit

Kids Definition

cockpit

noun

cock·​pit ˈkäk-ˌpit 

: a space or compartment in a usually small vehicle (as a boat, airplane, or automobile) from which it is steered, piloted, or driven