contrail

noun

con·​trail ˈkän-ˌtrāl How to pronounce contrail (audio)
: streaks of condensed water vapor created in the air by an airplane or rocket at high altitudes

Examples of contrail in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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When there’s a launch window in the middle of the night or very early morning, there’s an opportunity for unique photos — the rocket lights up the dark sky and the contrail after makes for a great photo. Lianna Norman, Florida Times-Union, 28 Mar. 2026 Google said on Thursday that its artificial intelligence (AI) forecasts helped prevent contrails, the white lines that often follow planes in the sky. Julia Shapero, The Hill, 19 Mar. 2026 Google is using artificial intelligence to predict where these condensation trails, or contrails, are likely to form if planes pass through. ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026 Twenty-five thousand LED bulbs glowed from the span’s suspender cables, creating patterns that looked like a meteor contrail or a flash of sunlight off Salesforce Tower. Rachel Swan, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contrail

Word History

Etymology

condensation trail

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of contrail was in 1943

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Cite this Entry

“Contrail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contrail. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

contrail

noun
con·​trail ˈkän-ˌtrāl How to pronounce contrail (audio)
: a stream of visible water or ice particles created in the air by an airplane or rocket at high altitudes

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