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.
After his spaceflight, Jähn led East Germany's new Space Training Centre at Eggersdorf near Strausberg until 1990, when the East German Air Force was dissolved. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 26 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 Research suggests that microgravity and other aspects of spaceflight may alter saliva production and oral health, likely because fluid shifts, dehydration and changes in the body’s stress response can affect the salivary glands. — Sundeep Venkatesan, The Conversation, 3 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 1 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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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

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

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

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

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

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

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

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

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
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
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All