seaplane

IPA/ˈsiːpleɪn/
IPA/ˈsiːpleɪn/

seaplane — noun

  • seaplanesingular
  • seaplanesplural

1. a form of aircraft that operates from the surface of lakes, rivers, or the sea r

1.nounB1
Definition

a form of aircraft that operates from the surface of lakes, rivers, or the sea rather than from a runway

Example

The pilot flew the seaplane low over the lake before touching down on the water.

seaplane touching down on water (landing)

From the dock, Renata watched the seaplane rise from the harbour into the morning sky.

seaplane lifting off water (take-off)

Common collocations
  • by seaplane
  • seaplane service
  • seaplane base
  • seaplane pilot
  • pilot a seaplane
Synonyms
  • floatplane

    A type of seaplane with floats beneath the fuselage; often used interchangeably, though strictly a subset of seaplanes.

  • flying boat

    A seaplane whose fuselage itself serves as a hull for water landings; larger models were common in early commercial aviation.

Antonyms
  • landplane

    An aircraft that can only take off from and land on paved or grass runways.

Grammar Patterns

countable noun

Usage Note

Seaplane is a general term covering two main types: floatplanes (with long floats under the fuselage) and flying boats (with a boat-shaped hull). The word is commonly used in contexts involving remote islands, lakes, and coastal regions where paved runways are unavailable.

Common Mistakes

I flew to the island by hydroplane.
I flew to the island by seaplane.
A hydroplane is a racing boat, not an aircraft.

Word family

  • floatplane
    nounB2
  • flying boat
    nounB2
  • amphibious aircraft
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Seaplane is the broadest term for any aircraft designed to operate from water. Floatplanes have long, narrow floats (pontoons) mounted beneath the fuselage; they are the most common type of recreational seaplane today. Flying boats use a hull-shaped fuselage to land directly on water and often have wing-mounted floats for stability; these were widely used in early commercial aviation (e.g. the Boeing 314 Clipper). An amphibious aircraft (or amphibian) can also operate from runways because it has retractable landing gear. A hydroplane is a completely different type of vehicle — a fast motorboat that skims the surface of the water — and should not be confused with any aircraft.

floatplane ↗flying boathydroplaneamphibious aircraft

Common collocations

Nouns

Verbs

Phrases

  • by seaplane
  • seaplane base
  • seaplane service
  • pilot a seaplane
  • seaplane pilot

Prepositions

Etymology

English: sea (water) + plane (airplane)

Seaplane is a compound of 'sea' and 'plane' (a shortening of 'airplane'). The term dates to the early 20th century (around 1909–1913), shortly after the invention of the aircraft, as aviators began experimenting with water landings. The French pilot Henri Fabre flew the first successful seaplane (a floatplane) in 1910.