fuselage

noun

fu·​se·​lage ˈfyü-sə-ˌläzh How to pronounce fuselage (audio)
-zə-
: the central body portion of an aircraft designed to accommodate the crew and the passengers or cargo see airplane illustration

Examples of fuselage in a Sentence

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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.
Meanwhile, airborne early-warning aircraft often use large radar arrays mounted above the fuselage to provide surveillance over a broad area. — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026 But this May, less than four years later, it was stripped for parts worth millions and crushed, the steel teeth of an excavator tearing through its fuselage at a facility on the outskirts of Phoenix. — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026 At Mach 2, aerodynamic heating of the nearly 204-foot fuselage required a temperature-resistant aluminum-alloy airframe covered in specialized white paint that could expand—by as much as 10 inches—and contract back into place. — Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026 There are also chines running along the fuselage, which provide better aerodynamics, with lift being particularly improved for carrier operations. — New Atlas, 4 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fuselage

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, from fuselé "spindle-shaped" (from past participle of fuseler "to give the shape of a spindle to," going back to Middle French, derivative of fusel "spindle," diminutive of fus "spindle," going back to Latin fūsus, of obscure origin) + -age -age

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fuselage was in 1909

Rhymes for fuselage

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Browse Nearby Words

fuse gauge
fuselage
fusel oil
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Cite this Entry

“Fuselage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fuselage. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

fuselage

noun
fu·​se·​lage ˈfyü-sə-ˌläzh How to pronounce fuselage (audio)
ˈfyü-zə-
: the central body portion of an airplane that holds the crew, passengers, and cargo

More from Merriam-Webster on fuselage

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fuselage

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