plural flybys
1
: a prearranged usually low-altitude flight by one or more airplanes over a public gathering (such as an air show)
2
a
: a flight of a spacecraft past a celestial body (such as Mars) close enough to obtain scientific data
b
: a spacecraft that makes a flyby
Examples of flyby in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In fact, Pluto's 2015 flyby by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft further fueled the debate by revealing a surprisingly complex world with mountains, glaciers and active geology.
—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
1 July 2026
From a cache of images released by NASA this spring that were taken by Artemis II astronauts during a lunar flyby in April.
—
Ann Manov,
Harpers Magazine,
30 June 2026
The agency's fiscal year 2026 and 2027 budget requests proposed terminating the Apophis flyby mission.
—
Briana Alvarado,
ABC News,
30 June 2026
An asteroid of this size comes this close to Earth only roughly once every decade, making this weekend’s flyby a rare observing opportunity rather than a routine close approach.
—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for flyby
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Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
1 July 2026
From a cache of images released by NASA this spring that were taken by Artemis II astronauts during a lunar flyby in April.
—
Ann Manov,
Harpers Magazine,
30 June 2026
The agency's fiscal year 2026 and 2027 budget requests proposed terminating the Apophis flyby mission.
—
Briana Alvarado,
ABC News,
30 June 2026
An asteroid of this size comes this close to Earth only roughly once every decade, making this weekend’s flyby a rare observing opportunity rather than a routine close approach.
—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for flyby
Cite this Entry
“Flyby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flyby. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
flyby
noun
fly·by
-ˌbī 
plural flybys
1
: a usually low-altitude flight past a chosen place by one or more aircraft
2
a
: a flight of a spacecraft past a heavenly body (as Mars) close enough to obtain scientific information
b
: a spacecraft that makes a flyby
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