spaceflight

noun

space·​flight ˈspās-ˌflīt How to pronounce spaceflight (audio)
: flight beyond the earth's atmosphere

Examples of spaceflight in a Sentence

a history of human spaceflight
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.
This robotic system played a key role in the Shuttle and International Space Station programs, and revolutionized human spaceflight. — Joanna Goodrich, IEEE Spectrum, 2 Sep. 2026 The longest single spaceflight lasted 437 days and was set between 1994 and 1995 by Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov on the Mir space station. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Impromptu repairs were critical for many early American spaceflights—including Apollo 13 in 1970—and several Soviet missions. — Tom Metcalfe, Scientific American, 18 Aug. 2026 Centaur remains one of the most influential upper-stage designs in American spaceflight. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spaceflight

Word History

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spaceflight was in 1931

Rhymes for spaceflight

See All Rhymes for spaceflight

Browse Nearby Words

space-filling model
spaceflight
space force
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spaceflight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spaceflight. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

spaceflight

noun
space·​flight ˈspās-ˌflīt How to pronounce spaceflight (audio)
: flight beyond the earth's atmosphere

More from Merriam-Webster on spaceflight

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about spaceflight

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gist

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All