astronaut
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for astronaut, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A person trained to travel and work in a spacecraft beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
Coined from Greek ástron ("star") plus nautēs ("sailor") — literally a "star sailor."
Full origin of astronaut →Frequently asked questions
What does “astronaut” mean?
The word “astronaut” means a person trained to travel and work in a spacecraft beyond Earth’s atmosphere. In plain terms, a person who travels into space as part of a crew.
How do you pronounce “astronaut”?
“Astronaut” is pronounced AST-ruh-nawt (/ˈæstɹəˌnɔt/ in IPA).
How do you use “astronaut” in a sentence?
Here is “astronaut” used in a sentence: “The astronaut spent six months aboard the space station.”
What is another word for “astronaut”?
Words with a similar meaning to “astronaut” include cosmonaut and spacefarer.
What part of speech is “astronaut”?
“Astronaut” is a noun.
Where does the word “astronaut” come from?
The word “astronaut” comes from Greek. Coined from Greek ástron ("star") plus nautēs ("sailor") — literally a "star sailor.".
Is “astronaut” a common word?
“Astronaut” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between an astronaut and a cosmonaut?
Both terms describe a person trained to travel and work in a spacecraft beyond Earth's atmosphere, but "astronaut" is used for space travelers from the United States and most Western space programs, while "cosmonaut" refers specifically to those trained by Russia or the former Soviet Union. The distinction is nationality-based rather than a difference in role.
Is a taikonaut the same as an astronaut?
"Taikonaut" is the term used specifically for Chinese space travelers, following the same naming pattern as "astronaut" and "cosmonaut." All three describe the same underlying role: a trained person who travels and works in a spacecraft.
What qualifies someone to be called an astronaut?
An astronaut is specifically someone trained to travel and work in a spacecraft beyond Earth's atmosphere, so the term applies once a person has completed that training and undertaken or prepared for spaceflight. It isn't used loosely for anyone merely interested in space.