aircraft carrier

noun

: a warship with a flight deck on which aircraft can be launched and landed

Examples of aircraft carrier in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Satellite imagery earlier this week showed the aircraft carrier anchored in the Persian Gulf off the United Arab Emirates, amid the Navy's continuing operations in the Middle East. Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025 Landing on a moving aircraft carrier at night in rough seas requires trust not just in your instincts, but in the technology guiding your descent. Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025 Ballard went on to discover several other storied wrecks: the Nazi warship Bismark, the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown and PT-109, a Navy vessel commanded by President John F. Kennedy in his mid-20s during World War II. Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2025 With a full-length flight deck capable of supporting helicopters and tilt-rotor aircraft, the ship functions much like a small aircraft carrier. Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for aircraft carrier

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aircraft carrier was in 1917

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Cite this Entry

“Aircraft carrier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aircraft%20carrier. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

aircraft carrier

noun
: a warship with a deck from which aircraft can take off and on which they can land
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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