a vehicle that can fly
"The pilot checked the weather before taking off in the aircraft to deliver emergency supplies."
A vehicle capable of atmospheric flight due to interaction with the air, such as buoyancy or lift
"The pilot taxied the aircraft down the runway before engaging its engines for takeoff."
In plain English: An aircraft is any vehicle that can fly through the air, such as airplanes, helicopters, and drones.
"The pilot checked the weather before taking off in his small aircraft."
Usage: Use "aircraft" as a collective term for any machine that can fly through the atmosphere, including airplanes, helicopters, and gliders. It functions as both a singular and plural noun, so you would say "the aircraft is ready" or "the aircraft are landing."
The word aircraft combines the Old English root æfre meaning "sky" or "air" with the suffix -craft, which denotes skill or art. It originally referred to the skilled operation of flying machines within the atmosphere.