What does seaplane mean?
A seaplane is an aircraft intended to take off from and land on water. Instead of ordinary wheels, it typically has floats, pontoons, or a boat-like hull that allows it to float and move across a lake, river, or coastal sea. Seaplanes became especially important in the early and mid-20th century, when they provided transport to places without paved airports and served routes around remote coastal communities. Today they are used mainly for specialized passenger services, sightseeing, firefighting, and aviation exhibitions. The word is a compound of sea and plane and clearly distinguishes an aircraft adapted for water operation from a conventional airplane. Although often used loosely for any aircraft operating from water, it is especially associated with floatplanes and flying boats.
nounA kind of aircraft designed to take off from and land on water, typically using floats or a hull fitted with pontoons.
- An aircraft designed to take off from and land on water.
- A flying boat or similar water-capable aircraft.
"The seaplane flew across the bay and landed smoothly beside the dock."
"They took a seaplane to the remote island."
"The historic seaplane was restored for museum exhibitions."
The standard plural is seaplanes.
"Several seaplanes were moored at the lakeside terminal."
A seaplane turns the surface of a lake or ocean into a runway, combining the idea of an airplane with the practical convenience of a boat.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does seaplane come from?
Seaplane was formed in the early 20th century from sea and plane, when aviation made water-based aircraft commercially and militarily important. The word belongs to the broader family of aircraft terms such as airplane, aeroplane, and hydroplane. Its development followed advances in engines, marine hull design, and pilot training during the first decades of powered flight.
Related word forms
How seaplane is actually used
The term is now relatively uncommon in everyday English because most modern passenger aircraft use conventional runways. It remains common in aviation history, tourism, and descriptions of service to coastal or remote locations.
Easily confused with seaplane
A hydroplane is an aircraft whose hull rides on the water on contact, whereas a seaplane is more broadly any aircraft designed to operate from the water.
An airplane is designed to fly using a fixed-wing structure in the air, while a seaplane is specifically equipped to take off from and land on water.