noun A1 Beginner Common

airplane

EH-uh-playn

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Also spelled aeroplane (UK spelling)

Airplane (noun) means a powered aircraft with fixed wings and at least one engine, capable of carrying passengers or cargo. Example: “My grandmother is afraid of flying, so she never gets on an airplane.”

noun

A powered aircraft with fixed wings and at least one engine, capable of carrying passengers or cargo.

"My grandmother is afraid of flying, so she never gets on an airplane."

"The airplane climbed steadily after takeoff."

"They booked seats on the first airplane out in the morning."

verb

To travel or transport something by airplane.

"The charity airplaned blankets and medicine to the remote village last winter."

"If we airplane the samples overnight, the lab can test them tomorrow."

"The company airplaned the equipment in to meet the deadline."

How to use airplane

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA flying vehicle with wings and engines — the everyday American word for what the British more often call an "aeroplane."

UK vs US

"Airplane" is standard American English; British English traditionally prefers "aeroplane," though "plane" is common in both.

Easily confused with

aeroplane → aircraft →

Common pairings

board an airplane a commercial airplane airplane mode

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: airplanes
Third person singular: airplanes
Past tense: airplaned

Test yourself on “airplane” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

My grandmother is afraid of flying, so she never gets on an _____.

Etymology

An American respelling of "aeroplane," itself formed from Greek aer ("air") and French plane, referring to the flat wing surface that generates lift.

Origin: French

Synonyms

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aeroplane plane aircraft airliner jet jetliner

Related words

even green aircraft plane flat sheet jet fountain

Rhymes for airplane

cane lane Dane mane vane pane bane sane wane Jane fane Zane

See all rhymes for 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.

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