hub-and-spoke

adjective

ˈhəb-ən(d)-ˈspōk How to pronounce hub-and-spoke (audio)
: being or relating to a system of routing air traffic in which a major airport serves as a central point for coordinating flights to and from other airports

Examples of hub-and-spoke 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.
The new hub-and-spoke model of air service started displacing milk-run paths. — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026 The hub-and-spoke model This is the sweet spot for the traveler who wants to see as much as possible but can’t commit to the team-following hustle. — Meredith Heil Bock, AFAR Media, 25 Sep. 2025 Chinese airlines are also bypassing the Gulf’s hub-and-spoke ecosystem, adding thousands of direct flights to Europe. — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 10 Apr. 2026 North Carolina's plan creates a hub-and-spoke model that allots money to six large regional leads, including nonprofits such as Access East. — Sarah Jane Tribble, NPR, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for hub-and-spoke

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hub-and-spoke was in 1980

Rhymes for hub-and-spoke

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Browse Nearby Words

hub-and-spigot joint
hub-and-spoke
hubba-hubba
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Cite this Entry

“Hub-and-spoke.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hub-and-spoke. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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