# astronaut

/ˈæstɹəˌnɑt/ (US) · /ˈæstɹənˌɔːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/astronaut
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. space traveler

noun · CEFR A2

a person who travels into space for work or exploration.

For teachers: a crew member of a spacecraft or someone trained for space flight missions.

- The astronaut floated inside the space station while looking at the Earth below.
- After years of rigorous physical and psychological training, the astronaut finally embarked on her first mission to the International Space Station.

### 2. working abroad

noun · CEFR C2 · Dialect

a person who works in another country while their family stays at home.

For teachers: a person, typically a professional, who works overseas and only returns to their family for short periods.

- He lived as an astronaut for five years, working in London while his wife and kids stayed in Hong Kong.
- The social phenomenon of the 'astronaut father' became common as professionals sought better career opportunities abroad while maintaining a stable home base for their children.

Usage: Primarily used in Hong Kong English to describe family breadwinners who fly back and forth.

Teaching tip: This is a specific cultural metaphor used in Hong Kong; most English speakers will only know the 'space traveler' meaning.

## Examples

- The astronaut floats inside the space station.
- After years of intense physical and mental training, she finally became an astronaut for the national space agency.
- Modern astronauts must possess not only technical engineering skills but also the psychological resilience required for long-duration missions in the confined environment of a lunar base.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.