biplane

American  

[bahy-pleyn] / ˈbaɪˌpleɪn /

noun

1. an airplane with two sets of wings, one above and usually slightly forward of the other.

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biplane British  

/ ˈbaɪˌpleɪn /

noun

1. a type of aeroplane having two sets of wings, one above the other Compare monoplane

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Etymology

Origin of biplane

First recorded in 1870–75; bi- ¹ + (air)plane

Compare meaning

How does biplane compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• monoplane vs. biplane

Example Sentences

But as Bentley started assembling the picture, he realized that “Train Dreams” reached a more emotional crescendo earlier, when Robert goes up in a biplane, crucial memories suddenly flooding through him.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026

The practice lasted until 1932, when a 22-year-old student aviator spotted a drifting cat-shaped balloon and tried to capture it with her biplane.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 25, 2025

That's how they had her hover at that one point for one of the opening shots when she's hovering and then it turns into the biplane.

From Salon • Feb. 19, 2024

In 2015, North Korean state media even carried footage of Kim Jong Un piloting a "homegrown" light aircraft and sitting at the controls of an AN-2 military biplane.

From BBC • Sep. 11, 2023

Up among the clouds Barnie Buchanan was still putting his old biplane through its paces.

From "A Long Way from Chicago" by Richard Peck