Astronaut: meaning, definitions and examples

Commonly used in American English, it specifically refers to a person trained to travel and work in space, especially as part of the United States' space program.

• Neil Armstrong was the first astronaut to walk on the moon.
• The astronaut prepared for the space mission.

This term is used primarily in Russian and Eastern European contexts, referring to a person trained and certified by the Russian space program to work in space.

• Yuri Gagarin was the first cosmonaut to orbit the Earth.
• The Russian cosmonaut spent six months aboard the International Space Station.

A more general term that can refer to any person who travels to space, not necessarily professional astronauts or cosmonauts. This term is often used for space tourists.

• The space traveler spent a week on a commercial space flight.
• As space tourism becomes more common, more space travelers are expected.

This term carries a more poetic or literary tone, referring to anyone who travels or journeys through space. It is less common in formal or professional contexts.

• In his sci-fi novel, the spacefarer explored distant galaxies.
• The legend spoke of daring spacefarers who ventured beyond the stars.