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Definition of joystick

joystick

/ˈdʒɔɪ.stɪk/
joy · stick
Plural:joysticks
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joystick Lexical Profile

joystick Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A manual control or input device consisting of a vertical lever that can be moved in various directions to control the action of a computer program, especially a video game.

Example

"She aggressively tilted the joystick to the left to dodge the incoming missiles on the arcade screen."

2

The principal control column of an aircraft, used by the pilot to adjust the elevators and ailerons for governing altitude and direction.

Example

"The pilot pulled back gently on the joystick to raise the nose of the plane during takeoff."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for joystick

• Nearby Words

journey
jovellana
jovibarba
joystick
juanulloa
juarez
juba

Word Origin & Etymology

Originated as early 20th-century aviation slang (circa 1910) for an aircraft's control column, later widely adopted by the computer and video game industries in the 1970s for gaming input devices.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Joystick. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/joystick
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