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.
That spacecraft became the first commercial satellite permitted to transmit radionavigation signals in the L-band spectrum used alongside GPS. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026 Such reservoirs, if fed directly by the ocean, would be significantly easier for passing spacecraft to detect and analyze than an ocean buried miles below. — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 3 Aug. 2026 Today, crews enjoy a wide variety of foods, including tortillas, spicy shrimp cocktails, rehydratable macaroni and cheese, and occasional treats such as brownies, cookies and fresh fruit delivered by cargo spacecraft. — Sundeep Venkatesan, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026 No rocket in the world has a rapidly reusable upper spacecraft. — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 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

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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 7 Aug. 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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