contrail

noun

con·​trail ˈkän-ˌtrāl How to pronounce contrail (audio)
: streaks of condensed water vapor created in the air by an airplane or rocket at high altitudes

Examples of contrail 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.
And more than 40% of these flights left contrails behind them for at least part of the journey. — Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 28 Aug. 2026 When there’s a launch window in the middle of the night or very early morning, there’s an opportunity for unique photos — the rocket lights up the dark sky, and the contrail afterward makes for a great photo. — Lianna Norman, Florida Times-Union, 28 Aug. 2026 That 1 % to 5% would be enough to demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in contrail formation on an airspace-scale, said Paul Hodgson, Google’s technical lead for Operation Blue Skies. — Jennifer McDermott, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026 This new effort expands on individual airline trials to try mitigating contrails across an entire flight corridor. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contrail

Word History

Etymology

condensation trail

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of contrail was in 1943

Rhymes for contrail

See All Rhymes for contrail

Browse Nearby Words

contrahierba
contrail
contraindicate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Contrail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contrail. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

contrail

noun
con·​trail ˈkän-ˌtrāl How to pronounce contrail (audio)
: a stream of visible water or ice particles created in the air by an airplane or rocket at high altitudes

More from Merriam-Webster on contrail

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about contrail

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