test pilot

noun

: a pilot who specializes in putting new or experimental airplanes through maneuvers designed to test them (as for strength) by producing strains in excess of normal

Examples of test pilot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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His service to the country continued, eventually logging over 5,000 hours as a U.S. naval aviator and test pilot. Dp Opinion, The Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2025 Ambitious short film chronicles daring flight of X-15 rocket plane test pilot (video) Going to SXSW 2025? Jeff Spry, Space.com, 8 Mar. 2025 During their time aboard the Starliner, Wilmore and Williams were in charge as test pilots. Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025 Wilmore and Williams were initially set to spend about a week at the space station after serving as test pilots on the first crewed launch of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft in June. Julia Shapero, The Hill, 17 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for test pilot

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of test pilot was in 1917

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Cite this Entry

“Test pilot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/test%20pilot. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

test pilot

noun
: a pilot who puts new aircraft through tests

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