empennage

noun

em·​pen·​nage ˌäm-pə-ˈnäzh How to pronounce empennage (audio)
ˌem-
: the tail assembly of an aircraft

Examples of empennage 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.
This meant that guides had to be added to the empennage to prevent damage to the vertical and horizontal tail surfaces. — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Oct. 2022 Meanwhile, Aciturri—also based in Spain—will design and develop Overture’s empennage, or tail structure. — Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 26 June 2023 Its carbon-composite fuselage and empennage components reduce weight while maintaining structural strength, and its enhanced propulsion system has been optimized for long-endurance strike missions. — Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025 Propulsion is courtesy of a pair of electric nacelles set on the V-tail empennage, with low-tip-speed propellers powered by an internal combustion engine turning a generator that feeds a battery. — New Atlas, 13 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, feathers of an arrow, empennage, from empenner to feather an arrow, from em- en- entry 1 + penne feather, from Middle French — more at pen

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of empennage was in 1908

Rhymes for empennage

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Browse Nearby Words

empeine
empennage
empeople
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Cite this Entry

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

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