seaplane: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical/Formal
Quick answer
What does “seaplane” mean?
An aircraft designed to take off from and land on water.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An aircraft designed to take off from and land on water.
A type of airplane equipped with floats or a hull that allows it to operate from water surfaces, often used for transport, rescue, or tourism in coastal or island regions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both varieties use 'seaplane'. The term 'floatplane' is also used, particularly in North American technical contexts, to specify a seaplane with pontoons.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes adventure, remote travel, and practicality in archipelagos. In British English, it may have stronger historical associations with early aviation and the Empire's far-flung territories.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to greater use in Alaska, Canada, and the Caribbean for transport. In the UK, its use is more niche, associated with specific coastal services and heritage.
Grammar
How to Use “seaplane” in a Sentence
The seaplane landed [on the lake].They travelled [by seaplane] [to the island].The pilot [flew] the seaplane [from] the harbour.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “seaplane” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The company plans to seaplane tourists directly to the loch.
- They had to seaplane the supplies in due to the flooded runway.
American English
- The bush pilot will seaplane the geologists to the remote lake.
- We need to seaplane these parts to the research station.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as a standard adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as a standard adverb.
adjective
British English
- The seaplane terminal was bustling with holidaymakers.
- They offer a unique seaplane experience over the Scottish isles.
American English
- The seaplane charter service is based in Key West.
- We booked a seaplane tour of the San Juan Islands.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in tourism, logistics, and regional transport proposals (e.g., 'The resort offers seaplane transfers from the mainland.').
Academic
Used in history of technology, aviation engineering, and geographical studies of remote regions.
Everyday
Used when discussing travel to islands or remote coastal areas without airports (e.g., 'We'll need to take a seaplane to get there.').
Technical
Used in aviation manuals, regulations, and design specifications, distinguishing between floatplanes and flying boats.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “seaplane”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “seaplane”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “seaplane”
- Using 'seaplane' to refer to a ship or boat. Confusing it with 'airplane' when the context is clearly over water. Misspelling as 'sea plane' (two words) is common but the standard is one word.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Seaplane' is the general term. A 'floatplane' is a type of seaplane that uses separate pontoons (floats) for buoyancy. A 'flying boat' is another type where the hull itself is boat-shaped.
Typically, no. A standard seaplane requires water. However, an 'amphibious' seaplane has retractable wheels, allowing it to use both water and land runways.
They are vital in areas with many lakes, islands, or rugged coastlines and few airports, such as Alaska, the Caribbean, the Canadian wilderness, and parts of Scandinavia and Southeast Asia.
It is a single, closed compound word: 'seaplane'. The hyphenated form 'sea-plane' is archaic.
An aircraft designed to take off from and land on water.
Seaplane is usually technical/formal in register.
Seaplane: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsiːpleɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsiːpleɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to 'seaplane'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PLANE that uses the SEA as its runway. SEA + PLANE = SEAplane.
Conceptual Metaphor
A BRIDGE OVER WATER (it connects land-based infrastructure to water-accessible destinations).
Practice
Quiz
What is a key design feature of a seaplane?