flight path: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Technical / Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “flight path” mean?
The planned route through the air that an aircraft follows from one point to another.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The planned route through the air that an aircraft follows from one point to another.
1) The specific trajectory of any airborne vehicle (e.g., a spacecraft, drone). 2) Figuratively, a planned or predicted course of action or development.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The term is standard in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties; carries a technical, precise connotation.
Frequency
Equally common in both UK and US aviation and news contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “flight path” in a Sentence
[Aircraft/Vehicle] + [verb] + [preposition] + [flight path] (e.g., The drone followed its pre-programmed flight path.)Flight path + of + [aircraft/destination] (e.g., The flight path of the new airliner was designed for fuel efficiency.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically: 'The company is on a flight path to bankruptcy.'
Academic
Common in engineering, physics, and logistics papers discussing trajectories.
Everyday
Used when discussing travel, news about air incidents, or drone usage.
Technical
Precise term in air traffic control, flight planning, and aerospace engineering.
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “flight path”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “flight path”
- Using 'flight track' interchangeably (less common). Confusing 'flight path' with 'runway' or 'taxiway'.
- Incorrect preposition: 'in the flight path' instead of 'on the flight path'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is used for any airborne vehicle including spacecraft, rockets, drones, and even birds in specialised contexts.
Yes, figuratively to describe a planned or projected course of action, e.g., 'The project is on a risky flight path.'
An 'airway' is a standardised, published route in the sky, like a highway. A 'flight path' is the specific route a single aircraft plans to take, which may follow parts of several airways.
In British English, it's a long /ɑː/ like in 'father'. In American English, it's a short /æ/ like in 'cat'.
The planned route through the air that an aircraft follows from one point to another.
Flight path is usually technical / journalistic in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “On a collision flight path (figurative).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'PATH' drawn in the SKY for a 'FLIGHT' to follow.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY / PROGRESS IS MOVEMENT ALONG A PATH (e.g., 'His career is on a steady flight path to success.').
Practice
Quiz
In a figurative sense, 'flight path' is most similar to: