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Definition of hovercraft

hovercraft

/ˈhʌv.ɚ.kræft/
hov · er · craft
Plural:hovercraft
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hovercraft Lexical Profile

hovercraft Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

An amphibious vehicle designed to travel over land, water, mud, or ice, supported by a cushion of high-pressure air ejected downwards.

Example

"The coast guard dispatched a hovercraft to rescue the stranded hikers from the shifting tidal mudflats."

• Nearby Words

hovenia
hover
hoverboard
hovercraft
hoverfly
how
howdy

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the 1950s by British inventor Christopher Cockerell, combining 'hover' and 'craft'. It was originally a registered trademark before becoming a generic term.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hovercraft. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hovercraft
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