Astronaut: Definition, Usage, and Examples

Meaning 1：space traveler (astronaut)

astronaut 🔊

/ˈæstrənɔːt/

A person who is trained to travel and work in a spaceship.

Astronaut in a white spacesuit floating in space with Earth in the background

space traveler 🔊

➕

/speɪs ˈtrævələr/

A professional who is specially trained to operate spacecraft and conduct missions beyond Earth's atmosphere, often involved in scientific research or exploration.

📁 Category：Space Exploration 🔖 Level：Elementary

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Greek 'astron' (star) + 'nautēs' (sailor), literally 'star sailor'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think: ASTRO (stars) + NAUT (sailor) = a sailor among the stars.

📖 Example

As a child, she dreamed of becoming an astronaut and watching the Earth from space. 🔊 In her youth, she aspired to be a space traveler and observe our planet from the cosmos.

🔗 Collocations

astronaut training – the rigorous physical and technical preparation for space missions

NASA astronaut – a space traveler employed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

spacewalking astronaut – an astronaut who performs extravehicular activities outside a spacecraft

🔄 Synonyms

cosmonaut (n.) – Specifically refers to a Russian or Soviet space traveler.

spacefarer (n.) – A more general or literary term for someone who travels in space.

space explorer (n.) – Emphasizes the discovery and investigative aspect of the role.

🚫 Antonyms

earthbound civilian (n.) – An ordinary person who remains on Earth, contrasting with the specialized space traveler.

🌱 Derivatives

astronautics (n.) – The science and technology of space travel and exploration.

astronautical (adj.) – Relating to astronauts or the science of astronautics.

📖 Cultural Story

Coined in the late 1920s, this term predates human spaceflight. It reflects the early vision of space as a vast ocean to be navigated, popularized by NASA and other space agencies in the mid-20th century during the Space Race.