Word
spacecraft
Phoneticsspace·craft, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈspeɪsˌkɹæft/
UK/spˈeɪskɹɑːft/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a vehicle designed to travel or operate in space. It can carry people or be controlled by computers from Earth.
n. a vehicle or machine designed for flight or operation beyond the Earth's atmosphere. Refers to both crewed and uncrewed vessels.
Examples
“The spacecraft entered the planet's orbit this morning.”
“Engineers spent years testing the spacecraft's heat shield to ensure it could survive the intense friction of atmospheric reentry.”
“Modern spacecraft rely on sophisticated autonomous systems to navigate the vast distances between celestial bodies where real-time communication with ground control is impossible due to signal delay.”
Examples
simple
“The spacecraft entered the planet's orbit this morning.”
contextual
“Engineers spent years testing the spacecraft's heat shield to ensure it could survive the intense friction of atmospheric reentry.”
complex
“Modern spacecraft rely on sophisticated autonomous systems to navigate the vast distances between celestial bodies where real-time communication with ground control is impossible due to signal delay.”
Usage
The plural form is identical to the singular ('one spacecraft', 'two spacecraft').
Pitfall
The two spacecrafts landed safely.
The two spacecraft landed safely.
The plural of spacecraft is spacecraft; adding an 's' is a common error.
Real-World Examples
“A series of plaques has been unveiled across the UK to celebrate the country's first spacecraft to reach another planet.” “In 1969, minutes before the Apollo 11 spacecraft was set to make history by landing on the lunar surface, an onboard computer’s alarm rang, indicating an emergency.” “The LISA spacecraft will literally fly themselves around the free-floating cubes inside them, while inter-satellite lasers will measure the exact distances between the test masses.” “The spacecraft is scheduled to carry out 35 flybys of the giant planet's large moons Ganymede, Callisto and Europa.” Etymology
From space + -craft.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/spacecraft