noun
joystick
JOY-stihk
Joystick (noun) means a hand-operated lever used to control machinery, video games, or aircraft. Example: “He steered the drone using a small joystick.”
noun
1
A hand-operated lever used to control machinery, video games, or aircraft.
"He steered the drone using a small joystick."
"The flight simulator came with a realistic joystick and pedals."
How to use joystick
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA control lever, most familiar today from video game controllers and flight sticks.
Common pairings
grip the joystick
joystick controller
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Word forms
- Plural
- joysticks
- Third person singular
- joysticks
- Past tense
- joysticked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He steered the drone using a small _____.
Etymology
From joy plus stick, first recorded around 1910 as "joy-stick" for an airplane's control stick. The exact connection to "joy" isn't clear.
Synonyms
View more →
stick
control stick
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “joystick” mean?
The word “joystick” means a hand-operated lever used to control machinery, video games, or aircraft. In plain terms, a control lever, most familiar today from video game controllers and flight sticks.
How do you pronounce “joystick”?
“Joystick” is pronounced JOY-stihk (/ˈd͡ʒɔɪ.stɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “joystick” in a sentence?
Here is “joystick” used in a sentence: “He steered the drone using a small joystick.”
What part of speech is “joystick”?
“Joystick” is a noun.
Where does the word “joystick” come from?
The word “joystick” dates back to around 1910. From joy plus stick, first recorded around 1910 as "joy-stick" for an airplane's control stick. The exact connection to "joy" isn't clear.
