flyby

noun

fly·​by ˈflī-ˌbī 

plural flybys

1

: a prearranged usually low-altitude flight by one or more airplanes over a public gathering (such as an air show)

2

a

: a flight of a spacecraft past a celestial body (such as Mars) close enough to obtain scientific data

b

: a spacecraft that makes a flyby

Examples of flyby in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The flyby is a gravity assist that will save the spacecraft fuel, altering the spacecraft's trajectory into a low energy transfer. —Andrew Jones, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2025

In the case of Apophis, further observations eventually allowed astronomers in 2021 to rule out the possibility of an impact when the asteroid makes a close flyby to Earth in 2029 and again in 2036. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2025

BepiColombo Mercury flyby highlights ESA picked out the top three images from the flyby, which saw BepiColombo soaring over Mercury’s north pole. —Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025

The flyby, the sixth and final close approach for BepiColombo, is a critical step in the spacecraft's long journey toward its final destination. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for flyby

• apply
• awry
• belie
• bely
• bigeye
• bonsai
• buckeye
• comply
• coxae
• decry
• defy
• deny

Kids Definition

flyby

noun

fly·​by -ˌbī 

plural flybys

1

: a usually low-altitude flight past a chosen place by one or more aircraft

2

a

: a flight of a spacecraft past a heavenly body (as Mars) close enough to obtain scientific information

b

: a spacecraft that makes a flyby