floatation

American  

[floh-tey-shuhn] / floʊˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

1. a less common variant of flotation.

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floatation British  

/ fləʊˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. a variant spelling of flotation

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Etymology

Origin of floatation

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

First class passenger Laura Mabel Francatelli used the floatation device before entering a lifeboat and was one of about 700 people to survive the tragedy in 1912.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

Those who survived then spent hours bobbing in life jackets or clinging to other floatation devices while awaiting rescue, the 53-year-old lawyer said.

From Barron's • Jan. 27, 2026

Due to the weight of a battery and motor, the researchers may need to attach a floatation device to the robot to keep it from sinking, Jung said.

From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2023

During intelligence flights, the aircraft can drop sonobuoys — small floatation devices carrying an expendable sonar system.

From Washington Times • Oct. 12, 2023

The law of floatation was not discovered by contemplating the sinking of things, but by contemplating the floating of things which floated naturally, and then intelligently asking why they did so.

From The Doré Lectures being Sunday addresses at the Doré Gallery, London, given in connection with the Higher Thought Centre by Troward, T. (Thomas)