helicopter

1 of 2

noun

he·​li·​cop·​ter ˈhe-lə-ˌkäp-tər How to pronounce helicopter (audio)
ˈhē-
: an aircraft whose lift is derived from the aerodynamic forces acting on one or more powered rotors turning about substantially vertical axes

helicopter

2 of 2

verb

helicoptered; helicoptering; helicopters

intransitive verb

: to travel by helicopter

transitive verb

: to transport by helicopter

Examples of helicopter in a Sentence

Noun took a helicopter tour to get a better sense of the grandeur of the Grand Canyon
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.
Noun
New additives like preservatives, flavorings and vitamins were infused into them, and they were packaged in novel ways to withstand hard helicopter drops, wet beach landings and days at the bottom of rucksacks. Alice Callahan, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025 According to the fiscal 2025 defense policy bill, the military currently has roughly 46,000 dual-status technician positions distributed across crucial functions like helicopter and plane maintenance, technology support, weapons repair and administrative support for isolated units. Davis Winkie, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
Unfortunately for fans of both shows, the crossover doesn't sound like an all-hands-on-deck situation, and the 118 won't be joining Athena for this particular outing — especially without a certain someone to helicopter them in. Shania Russell, EW.com, 20 Feb. 2025 When Mangione waived extradition from Pennsylvania last week, he was quickly moved to New York City, arriving by plane and then helicopter on his way to face federal charges. Adam Reiss, NBC News, 23 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for helicopter

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French hélicoptère, from Greek heliko- + pteron wing — more at feather

First Known Use

Noun

1887, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1952, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of helicopter was in 1887

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Helicopter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/helicopter. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

helicopter

noun
he·​li·​cop·​ter
ˈhel-ə-ˌkäp-tər,
ˈhē-lə-
: an aircraft that is supported in the air by propellers revolving on a vertical axis

More from Merriam-Webster on helicopter

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