: of, relating to, being, or utilizing a flight-control system in which controls are operated electrically rather than mechanically

Examples of fly-by-wire in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Autopilot systems, fly-by-wire controls, and synthetic vision, while not the equivalent of an A.I. copilot, are also all heavily computer dependent. Daniel Cote, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 2025 When fly-by-wire airplanes were introduced, some pilots worried that a haywire computer might run away with things, HAL 9000–style. IEEE Spectrum, 29 Mar. 2013 Similar to the Rafale, the 10X has multiple control surfaces on the wings that act independently—commanded by its fly-by-wire system—for greater maneuverability, a feature no other competitor offers. Julie Boatman, Robb Report, 18 Jan. 2025 By eliminating vertical stabilizers, the aircraft relies on advanced fly-by-wire computer systems for control. New Atlas, 27 Dec. 2024 The cockpit of the BBJ 737-700 Select is equipped with Boeing’s advanced avionics suite, fly-by-wire technology, advanced weather radar, traffic collision avoidance, and more. Daniel Cote, Robb Report, 26 Dec. 2024 The pilot relies on a redundant fly-by-wire system with hands-on throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) and a widescreen HMI. New Atlas, 11 Dec. 2024 Fly-by-light control systems are very much like fly-by-wire. New Atlas, 28 Sep. 2024 The fly-by-wire aircraft was designed to be operated by a single joystick, with intuitive maneuvers that have been proven through nine years of testing and 7,000 flight hours. Julie Boatman, Robb Report, 22 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fly-by-wire was in 1955

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Cite this Entry

“Fly-by-wire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fly-by-wire. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

fly-by-wire

adjective
: controlled by electrical signals rather than mechanically

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