airframe

noun

air·​frame ˈer-ˌfrām How to pronounce airframe (audio)
Synonyms of airframenext
: the structure of an aircraft, rocket vehicle, or missile without the power plant
also : aircraft

Examples of airframe 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.
If successful, each B-52 should be capable of carrying similar payloads of LRASM as JASSM, which currently stands at around 20 per airframe. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2026 At Mach 2, aerodynamic heating of the nearly 204-foot fuselage required a temperature-resistant aluminum-alloy airframe covered in specialized white paint that could expand—by as much as 10 inches—and contract back into place. — Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026 This allowed Joby to operate under an FAA Experimental Airworthiness Certificate (Research & Development) while proving that its autonomy technology can be retrofitted onto conventional, pre-certified airframes. — New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2026 Although the plane flew under the Amazon Prime Air branding and network, the e-commerce giant does not hold the air operator certificate or maintenance responsibility for the airframe. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for airframe

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of airframe was in 1930

Rhymes for airframe

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Browse Nearby Words

air force blue
airframe
airframer
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Cite this Entry

“Airframe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airframe. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

airframe

noun
air·​frame ˈa(ə)r-ˌfrām How to pronounce airframe (audio)
ˈe(ə)r-
: the structure of an aircraft, rocket vehicle, or missile without the engine and related parts

More from Merriam-Webster on airframe

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about airframe

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