spacecraft

noun

space·​craft ˈspās-ˌkraft How to pronounce spacecraft (audio)
: a vehicle or device designed for travel or operation outside the earth's atmosphere

Examples of spacecraft 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.
All 29 spacecraft deployed from the Atlas V rocket less than an hour after launch. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 7 July 2026 The simulation will comprise two isolated habitats – one a spacecraft, the other a base – that simulate months-long flights to and from other celestial bodies. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 6 July 2026 That's a tight timeline for SpaceX and Blue Origin, whose spacecraft have faced ongoing delays in their development. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 7 July 2026 SpaceX builds and operates spacecraft, including thousands of satellites deployed in support of its Starlink satellite internet service. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for spacecraft

Word History

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spacecraft was in 1929

Rhymes for spacecraft

See All Rhymes for spacecraft

Browse Nearby Words

space-charge effect
spacecraft
space curve
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Cite this Entry

“Spacecraft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spacecraft. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

spacecraft

noun
space·​craft ˈspā-ˌskraft How to pronounce spacecraft (audio)
plural spacecraft
: a vehicle for travel beyond the earth's atmosphere

More from Merriam-Webster on spacecraft

Nglish: Translation of spacecraft for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about spacecraft

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