English Reference

Word

stagger

Phoneticsstag·ger

US/ˈstæɡɝ/

UK/stˈæɡɐ/

Definition

n. a sudden, unexpected change in the direction of an aircraft. It usually happens because of a sudden shift in the wind or a problem with the engine.

n. an abrupt, uncontrolled change in the direction or attitude of an aircraft. Often caused by a sudden shift in wind direction or a sudden loss of engine power.

Examples

“The pilot warned us about a possible stagger during takeoff.”

“The sudden stagger of the aircraft caused the passengers to brace for an emergency landing.”

“Pilots are trained to recognize the subtle signs of a stagger, which can occur when a sudden crosswind hits the fuselage at a critical angle during the climb.”

Examples

simple

“The pilot warned us about a possible stagger during takeoff.”

contextual

“The sudden stagger of the aircraft caused the passengers to brace for an emergency landing.”

complex

“Pilots are trained to recognize the subtle signs of a stagger, which can occur when a sudden crosswind hits the fuselage at a critical angle during the climb.”

Real-World Examples

“The artist staggers forward, one hand wrapped around a stick, the other holding out a glass in the faint hope of catching a drip of wine from the barrel.”
The Guardian · 24 Sept 2026
“Suppose that the suspiciously behaving man turns out to be a harmless drunk who staggers on by.”
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy · 1 Dec 2017

Etymology

From Middle English stakeren, from Old Norse stakra (“to push, stagger”). Cognate with dialectal Danish stagre.

From stag + -er.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domain

Aviation

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference