airplane
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for airplane, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A powered aircraft with fixed wings and at least one engine, capable of carrying passengers or cargo.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use airplane
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
An American respelling of "aeroplane," itself formed from Greek aer ("air") and French plane, referring to the flat wing surface that generates lift.
Full origin of airplane →Frequently asked questions
What does “airplane” mean?
The word “airplane” means a powered aircraft with fixed wings and at least one engine, capable of carrying passengers or cargo. In plain terms, a flying vehicle with wings and engines — the everyday American word for what the British more often call an "aeroplane.".
How do you pronounce “airplane”?
“Airplane” is pronounced EH-uh-playn (/ˈɛɹˌpleɪ̯n/ in IPA).
How do you use “airplane” in a sentence?
Here is “airplane” used in a sentence: “The airplane climbed steadily after takeoff.”
What part of speech is “airplane”?
Depending on how it is used, “airplane” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “airplane” come from?
The word “airplane” comes from French. An American respelling of "aeroplane," itself formed from Greek aer ("air") and French plane, referring to the flat wing surface that generates lift.
Is “airplane” a common word?
“Airplane” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “airplane” have?
“Airplane” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a powered aircraft with fixed wings and at least one engine, capable of carrying passengers or cargo.
What is the difference between 'airplane' and 'aeroplane'?
They are two spellings of the same word for a powered, fixed-wing aircraft. 'Airplane' is the standard American English spelling, while 'aeroplane' is the traditional British English spelling.
What is the difference between an 'airplane' and an 'aircraft'?
'Aircraft' is the broad term for any machine that flies, including helicopters, gliders, and balloons. An 'airplane' is a specific type of aircraft that has fixed wings and at least one engine.
What is the difference between an 'airplane' and a 'jet'?
A jet is a type of airplane powered by one or more jet engines. 'Airplane' is the general term and also includes aircraft driven by propellers, so all jets are airplanes but not all airplanes are jets.
What is the difference between 'airplane' and 'plane'?
'Plane' is the common, slightly shorter everyday word for the same aircraft, and 'airplane' is the fuller form. They refer to the same thing, and 'plane' is used more often in casual speech.