Definition

Adjective: (Of an aircraft) having wings that are angled backward from the fuselage, rather than extending straight out at right angles. This design feature is primarily used to reduce drag at high speeds.

Usage

The word "sweptwing" is a technical adjective used almost exclusively in aviation and aeronautical engineering contexts to describe the specific wing configuration of an airplane or glider. It modifies a noun, most commonly "aircraft," "jet," or "design."

Examples

• The sweptwing design became standard for jet fighters in the 1950s.
• This model features a sweptwing configuration for improved performance at transonic speeds.
• Early commercial jets like the Boeing 707 were recognizable by their sweptwing silhouette.

Advanced Usage

The term is sometimes used attributively in compound nouns to specify a type of aircraft based on this wing design. * The museum's collection includes several Cold War-era sweptwing jets.

Variants and Related Words

• Swept-back (adjective): This is a more common and slightly less technical synonym. (e.g., ).
• Sweptwing can function as a noun in highly specialized contexts, though this is rare. (e.g., ).

Synonyms

• Swept-back
• Backward-angled (wings)

Antonyms

• Straight-wing
• Unswept

Adjective

1. (of an aircraft) having sweptback wings
   • a sweptwing aircraft