copilot

noun

co·​pi·​lot ˈkō-ˌpī-lət How to pronounce copilot (audio)
: a qualified pilot who assists or relieves the pilot but is not in command

Examples of copilot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But the captain’s lecture and running of scenarios afterward in an Airbus A220 simulator was, for me, in the copilot’s chair, a coup de théâtre. Chantel Tattoli, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Dec. 2023 Drivers need only bring a suit and helmet (and a copilot to navigate). Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 15 Dec. 2023 Investigators concluded that is what happened on board a Germanwings plane in 2015 when the copilot deliberately crashed the aircraft in the French Alps, killing 150 people. Claire Rush and Gene Johnson, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Oct. 2023 Cultural norms in the airline industry promote strict hierarchies that both reflect military structure and define clear relationships between pilots, copilots, and flight attendants. TIME, 19 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'copilot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of copilot was in 1927

Dictionary Entries Near copilot

Cite this Entry

“Copilot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/copilot. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

copilot

noun
co·​pi·​lot ˈkō-ˌpī-lət How to pronounce copilot (audio)
: a pilot who assists the pilot or commander of a flight of an aircraft or spacecraft

More from Merriam-Webster on copilot

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