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Synonyms

aircraft

American  
[air-kraft, -krahft] / ˈɛərˌkræft, -ˌkrɑft /

noun

plural

aircraft

  1. any machine supported for flight in the air by buoyancy or by the dynamic action of air on its surfaces, especially powered airplanes, gliders, and helicopters.

aircraft British  
/ ˈɛəˌkrɑːft /

noun

  1. any machine capable of flying by means of buoyancy or aerodynamic forces, such as a glider, helicopter, or aeroplane

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of aircraft

First recorded in 1840–50; air 1 + craft

Compare meaning

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A heavier model, the 120-kilo Capa-X -- which can operate for 10 hours on similar missions but also alongside manned aircraft -- is currently awaiting contracts.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

A fire broke out last month on the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, which has been sailing around the world for nearly 10 months—a near record deployment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

"We are going to build an aircraft to succeed the Rafale. It must be capable of carrying out missions and operating from an aircraft carrier," he said.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

They proposed stationing key aircraft during a conflict in the western part of the kingdom, a safer distance away from Tehran.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Zoya Malkova, the aircraft mechanic who described the bone-chilling training routine at Engels, called the students from universities and aviation institutions “elitist”—including herself.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.