astronaut: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to formal. Common in news, science, and general discourse.
Quick answer
What does “astronaut” mean?
A person who is trained to travel and work in a spacecraft.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who is trained to travel and work in a spacecraft.
A person engaged in or trained for spaceflight; a space traveler. The term often carries connotations of heroism, scientific exploration, and exceptional skill.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is standard in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, strongly associated with NASA (US) and, historically, with the 'Space Race'. In the UK, may also be associated with European Space Agency (ESA) missions.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “astronaut” in a Sentence
The astronaut [verb, e.g., floated, conducted, reported].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “astronaut” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - not standard as a verb.
American English
- N/A - not standard as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A - not standard as an adverb.
American English
- N/A - not standard as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The astronaut programme is highly competitive.
- She has an astronaut-like discipline.
American English
- The astronaut program is highly competitive.
- He maintained an astronaut-level fitness regime.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in aerospace industry contexts (e.g., 'astronaut recruitment').
Academic
Common in physics, engineering, and history texts discussing space exploration.
Everyday
Common when discussing news about space missions or childhood dreams.
Technical
Standard term in aerospace engineering and space agency communications.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “astronaut”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “astronaut”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “astronaut”
- Using 'astronaut' for any fictional space alien (incorrect).
- Misspelling as 'astronot' or 'astronaugt'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Historically, 'astronaut' was used by the US and its allies (NASA, ESA), while 'cosmonaut' was used by the Soviet Union/Russia. Today, 'astronaut' is often the generic English term, while 'cosmonaut' specifies a Russian space traveler.
Typically, no. 'Astronaut' usually implies professional training and selection by a space agency. Terms like 'space tourist', 'private astronaut', or 'spaceflight participant' are more accurate for non-professionals.
Yes, it is an official professional designation within organizations like NASA, ESA, and JAXA.
The word 'astronaut' is gender-neutral. There is no separate female form, though the terms 'woman astronaut' or 'female astronaut' can be used for specificity.
A person who is trained to travel and work in a spacecraft.
Astronaut is usually neutral to formal. common in news, science, and general discourse. in register.
Astronaut: in British English it is pronounced /ˈæstrənɔːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈæstrəˌnɔt/ or /ˈæstrəˌnɑt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's not rocket science (related by theme, not synonym)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'astro' (star) + 'naut' (sailor, like in 'nautical'). A sailor among the stars.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXPLORATION IS A JOURNEY; SPACE IS AN OCEAN (hence 'naut').
Practice
Quiz
Which term is specifically used for a Chinese space traveler?