: 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
While commercial sales declined, the company secured a contract to develop an airborne early warning and control system (AWACS) using the older 707 airframe. —
John Pacenti, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026 Users can tweak structural parameter configuration files to suit different bamboo airframe designs without altering the core control algorithms, making advanced UAV technology more accessible. —Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026 The last airframes were retired from active service in 2010, though the venerable fighter has continued to be used for training. —Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026 The four-engine jets, based on the Boeing 707 commercial airframe carry a flight crew of four, plus 13 to 19 mission specialists, a number that can fluctuate depending on the specific assignment involved, according to the Air Force. —Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for airframe
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.
John Pacenti, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026 Users can tweak structural parameter configuration files to suit different bamboo airframe designs without altering the core control algorithms, making advanced UAV technology more accessible. —Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026 The last airframes were retired from active service in 2010, though the venerable fighter has continued to be used for training. —Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026 The four-engine jets, based on the Boeing 707 commercial airframe carry a flight crew of four, plus 13 to 19 mission specialists, a number that can fluctuate depending on the specific assignment involved, according to the Air Force. —Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for airframe
Cite this Entry
“Airframe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/airframe. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
airframe
noun
air·frame ˈa(ə)r-ˌfrām 
ˈe(ə)r-
: the structure of an aircraft, rocket vehicle, or missile without the engine and related parts
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
