What does "fuselage" mean?
The main body of an aerospace vehicle; the long central structure of an aircraft to which the wings (or rotors), tail, and engines are attached, and which accommodates crew and cargo.
Fuselage
/ˈfjuːzəˌlɑːʒ/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The main body of an aerospace vehicle; the long central structure of an aircraft to which the wings (or rotors), tail, and engines are attached, and which accommodates crew and cargo.
- Grammar: fuselage is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: aeroplane, airframe, airplane, body.
- Usage evidence: The body of the plane is called the fuselage. It is generally a long tube shape.
How to use "fuselage"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "fuselage" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "fuselage" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "fuselage" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "fuselage" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "fuselage" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "aeroplane" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "fuselage", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The main body of an aerospace vehicle; the long central structure of an aircraft to which the wings (or rotors), tail, and engines are attached, and which accommodates crew and cargo.
"Federal officials examining the horrifying midflight blowout of part of an Alaska Airlines aircraft’s fuselage are testing the detached piece for clues on what led up to the plane’s “explosive decompression” after the missing piece was discovered in an Oregon backyard."
- 2 the central body of an airplane that is designed to accommodate the crew and passengers (or cargo) wordnet
Example
"The body of the plane is called the fuselage. It is generally a long tube shape."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "fuselage"?
Common synonyms include: aeroplane, airframe, airplane, body, hull, main body.
How do you use "fuselage" in a sentence?
The body of the plane is called the fuselage. It is generally a long tube shape.
How do you pronounce "fuselage"?
Pronounced /ˈfjuːzəˌlɑːʒ/.
Etymology
Etymology tree Latin fūsusder. Old French fusel Proto-Italic *-āzi ▲ Latin -ereinflu. Latin -āre Old French -ier Middle French -er French -er French fuseler Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos Proto-Italic *-ātos Latin -ātus Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Italic *-kos Latin -cus Latin -icus Latin -āticus Latin -āticum Old French -age Middle French -age French -age French fuselagebor. English fuselage Borrowed from French fuselage. Ultimately from Latin fūsus (“spindle, spinning wheel”). For the meaning development, compare rocket, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *rukkô (“spinning wheel, distaff”) (whence also English rock (“distaff, the flax or wool on a distaff”)).