ramjet

noun

ram·​jet ˈram-ˌjet How to pronounce ramjet (audio)
: a jet engine that consists essentially of a hollow tube without mechanical components and depends on the aircraft's speed of flight to compress the air which is supplied to a burner from which hot gases are discharged rearward

Examples of ramjet 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.
Venus Aerospace The ramjet does the job, but there is a fly in the aerodynamic ointment. David Szondy may 25, New Atlas, 25 May 2025 Pros: Faster airflow translates to a faster aircraft compared to one using a ramjet system. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2025 The noise from the ramjet must have been unbearable for the pilot. IEEE Spectrum, 18 Feb. 2015 Traditional ramjet engines work by relying on the aircraft's speed to scoop up and compress air into the engine. New Atlas, 20 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for ramjet

Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ramjet was in 1942

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Cite this Entry

“Ramjet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ramjet. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

ramjet

noun
ram·​jet ˌram-ˌjet How to pronounce ramjet (audio)
: a jet engine that depends on the speed of flight for the compression of the air it takes in rather than using a mechanical compressor

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