What does "rudder" mean?
An underwater vane used to steer a vessel. The rudder is controlled by means of a wheel, tiller or other apparatus (modern vessels can be controlled even with a joystick or an autopilot).
Rudder
/ˈɹʌdə(ɹ)/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An underwater vane used to steer a vessel. The rudder is controlled by means of a wheel, tiller or other apparatus (modern vessels can be controlled even with a joystick or an autopilot).
- Grammar: rudder is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: aeroplane, air rudder, airplane, companion.
- Useful contrasts: aileron, misleader, no rudder.
- Usage evidence: Using the rudder and the jib with the wind behind it we backed up, turning the bow to the direction we wanted to go.
How to use "rudder"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "rudder" 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 "rudder" 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 "rudder" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "rudder" 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 "rudder" 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 "rudder", 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 An underwater vane used to steer a vessel. The rudder is controlled by means of a wheel, tiller or other apparatus (modern vessels can be controlled even with a joystick or an autopilot).
- 2 (nautical) steering mechanism consisting of a hinged vertical plate mounted at the stern of a vessel wordnet
- 3 A control surface on the vertical stabilizer of a fixed-wing aircraft or an autogyro. On some craft, the entire vertical stabilizer comprises the rudder. The rudder is controlled by foot-operated control pedals.
- 4 a hinged vertical airfoil mounted at the tail of an aircraft and used to make horizontal course changes wordnet
- 5 A riddle or sieve.
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 That which resembles a rudder as a guide or governor; that which guides or governs the course. figuratively
"For rhyme the rudder is of verses,/With which, like ships, they steer their courses."
- 7 The tail of an otter.
"He sniffed Tarka’s hair from rudder to neck, and his nose remained at the neck. It was a strange smell, and he sniffed carefully, not wanting to touch the fur with his nostrils."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Using the rudder and the jib with the wind behind it we backed up, turning the bow to the direction we wanted to go."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "rudder"?
Common synonyms include: aeroplane, air rudder, airplane, companion, directional control, director.
How do you use "rudder" in a sentence?
Using the rudder and the jib with the wind behind it we backed up, turning the bow to the direction we wanted to go.
How do you pronounce "rudder"?
Pronounced /ˈɹʌdə(ɹ)/.
Etymology
From Middle English rodder, rother, ruder, from Old English rōþor (“oar, rudder”), from Proto-West Germanic *rōþr, from Proto-Germanic *rōþrą (“oar, rudder”) (compare Dutch and West Frisian roer, German Ruder), from Proto-Germanic *rōaną, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁reh₁- (“to row”) + Proto-Germanic *-þrą, *-þraz, instrumental suffix. Akin to Old English rōwan (“to row”). More at rōwan, -þor.