contrail

noun

con·​trail ˈkän-ˌtrāl How to pronounce contrail (audio)
: streaks of condensed water vapor created in the air by an airplane or rocket at high altitudes

Examples of contrail 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.
Like a jet plane leaving a contrail, a green line began to move across the sky and spread into dancing clouds. — Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026 Prince set up his camera to have the statue of the author in the Dana Point Harbor in the foreground as the rocket, with its long contrail, passed. — Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026 When there’s a launch window in the middle of the night or very early morning, there’s an opportunity for unique photos — the rocket lights up the dark sky and the contrail after makes for a great photo. — Lianna Norman, Florida Times-Union, 28 Mar. 2026 Google said on Thursday that its artificial intelligence (AI) forecasts helped prevent contrails, the white lines that often follow planes in the sky. — Julia Shapero, The Hill, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contrail

Word History

Etymology

condensation trail

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of contrail was in 1943

Rhymes for contrail

See All Rhymes for contrail

Browse Nearby Words

contrahierba
contrail
contraindicate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Contrail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contrail. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

contrail

noun
con·​trail ˈkän-ˌtrāl How to pronounce contrail (audio)
: a stream of visible water or ice particles created in the air by an airplane or rocket at high altitudes

More from Merriam-Webster on contrail

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about contrail

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