fighter pilot

American  

[fahy-ter pahy-luht] / ˈfaɪ tər ˌpaɪ lət /

noun

Military.

1. a pilot trained to fly aircraft classified as fighters and to engage in aerial combat.

   The last surviving member of this celebrated squadron of fighter pilots has died, at age 92.

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Etymology

Origin of fighter pilot

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Hansen, who joined the CSA in 2009 following his career as a fighter pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force, will be the first non-American to fly around the Moon.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

Hansen, a 50-year-old former fighter pilot on his maiden voyage into space, said he saw "some extraordinary things" during the first hours aboard the Orion.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

Behind them will be Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, a Canadian fighter pilot turned astronaut.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

MIAMI—Before he emerged as the best young pitcher on the planet, Paul Skenes dreamed of becoming a fighter pilot.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

The next thing she did was to go straight to her flying club to volunteer as a fighter pilot.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein