astronaut
AST-ruh-nawt
Astronaut (noun) means a person trained to travel and work in a spacecraft beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Example: “The astronaut spent six months aboard the space station.”
noun
1
A person trained to travel and work in a spacecraft beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
"The astronaut spent six months aboard the space station."
"As a child, she dreamed of becoming an astronaut and visiting the moon."
"Every astronaut must learn to cope with floating in zero gravity."
How to use astronaut
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA person who travels into space as part of a crew.
UK vs US
American English generally says "astronaut"; Russian-trained space travelers are called "cosmonauts," and China’s program uses "taikonaut."
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Word forms
- Plural
- astronauts
Fill the gap
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The _____ spent six months aboard the space station.
Etymology
Coined from Greek ástron ("star") plus nautēs ("sailor") — literally a "star sailor."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for astronaut
See all rhymes for 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.
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