1
a
: a pit or enclosure for cockfights
b
: a place noted for especially bloody, violent, or long-continued conflict
2
obsolete
: the pit of a theater
3
: a compartment in a sailing warship used as quarters for junior officers and for treatment of the wounded in an engagement
4
: a space or compartment in a usually small vehicle (such as a boat, airplane, or automobile) from which it is steered, piloted, or driven see airplane illustration
Examples of cockpit in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
On most airlines, there is little or no CCTV in the main cabin, apart from the cockpit door and galley areas.
—
Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
The latest restoration, completed just ahead of the 60th anniversary of the A-12's operational readiness in November 1965, also included stripping failing paint, repairing water damage and inspecting the cockpit.
—Olivia Gazis, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
The report said that a thrust reverser indicator light wasn’t working before takeoff, but after the plane got into the air, the pilot’s altimeter and some other instruments weren’t working on the left side of the cockpit.
—Josh Funk, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
Dutton’s 20-year-old son, Jack, was in the right-hand seat of the cockpit.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cockpit
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Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
The latest restoration, completed just ahead of the 60th anniversary of the A-12's operational readiness in November 1965, also included stripping failing paint, repairing water damage and inspecting the cockpit.
—Olivia Gazis, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
The report said that a thrust reverser indicator light wasn’t working before takeoff, but after the plane got into the air, the pilot’s altimeter and some other instruments weren’t working on the left side of the cockpit.
—Josh Funk, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
Dutton’s 20-year-old son, Jack, was in the right-hand seat of the cockpit.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cockpit
Cite this Entry
“Cockpit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cockpit. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cockpit
noun
cock·pit
ˈkäk-ˌpit 
: a space or compartment in a usually small vehicle (as a boat, airplane, or automobile) from which it is steered, piloted, or driven
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