ornithopter

noun

or·​ni·​thop·​ter ˈȯr-nə-ˌthäp-tər How to pronounce ornithopter (audio)
: an aircraft designed to derive its chief support and propulsion from flapping wings

Examples of ornithopter 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.
Ultimately, ornithopters represent a significant achievement in drone design. — Tim Bajarin, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2026 But what makes The Swift so special? Generally speaking, ornithopters can only fly at one fairly brisk speed, limiting them to use in wide-open outdoor spaces. — New Atlas, 17 Feb. 2026 Fans flew the ornithopter for a total of 181M miles — the distance of flying to the sun and back. — Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2025 What really worked for director Denis Villeneuve, says King, were the sounds of the thumpers (used to summon the sandworms) and the ornithopters (the helicopters), so those were reused in Part Two. — Beatrice Verhoeven, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ornithopter

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary ornith- + -pter (as in helicopter)

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ornithopter was in 1908

Rhymes for ornithopter

See All Rhymes for ornithopter

Browse Nearby Words

ornithopodous
ornithopter
Ornithoptera
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on ornithopter

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ornithopter

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