aeronaut
noun
aero·naut ˈer-ə-ˌnȯt 
-ˌnät
: one who operates or travels in an airship or balloon
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Mandy Johnson, a longtime aeronaut and ballooning teacher in Washington, said her list of new students is bigger this summer than at any time in 25 years, with about two-thirds of them aged 20 to 35. 
New York Times, 15 Aug. 2021 In a land of promoters and dreamers, Thaddeus Lowe was a standout visionary, a scientific autodidact who came to California more than 20 years after his service as creator and chief aeronaut of the Union Army balloon corps. Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2021 The mystery aeronaut has been spotted at least twice before, in the summer and fall, but now there’s video, posted to the Instagram account of the Sling Pilot Academy, a local aviation school. Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 26 Dec. 2020 Jacques was the son of Auguste, similarly renowned as an aeronaut, inventor and physicist. Cnn Staff; Story By Tom Page, CNN, 2 Oct. 2020 Directed by Tom Harper, the movie is inspired by the true story of Victorian scientist James Glaisher and the aeronaut Henry Coxwell. Jennifer Tucker, Smithsonian, 9 Dec. 2019 Intrepid aeronauts of the past really did make a parachute of the balloon and witness butterflies at surprisingly high altitudes. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 7 Dec. 2019 Directed by Tom Harper, the movie is inspired by the true story of Victorian scientist James Glaisher and the aeronaut Henry Coxwell. Jennifer Tucker, Smithsonian, 9 Dec. 2019 The Aeronauts follows the adventures of James Glaisher, a scientist, and Amelia Wren, a flamboyant aeronaut who lost her husband in a hot air balloon accident. Rachael Bunyan, Time, 9 Dec. 2019 See More
New York Times, 15 Aug. 2021 In a land of promoters and dreamers, Thaddeus Lowe was a standout visionary, a scientific autodidact who came to California more than 20 years after his service as creator and chief aeronaut of the Union Army balloon corps. Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2021 The mystery aeronaut has been spotted at least twice before, in the summer and fall, but now there’s video, posted to the Instagram account of the Sling Pilot Academy, a local aviation school. Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 26 Dec. 2020 Jacques was the son of Auguste, similarly renowned as an aeronaut, inventor and physicist. Cnn Staff; Story By Tom Page, CNN, 2 Oct. 2020 Directed by Tom Harper, the movie is inspired by the true story of Victorian scientist James Glaisher and the aeronaut Henry Coxwell. Jennifer Tucker, Smithsonian, 9 Dec. 2019 Intrepid aeronauts of the past really did make a parachute of the balloon and witness butterflies at surprisingly high altitudes. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 7 Dec. 2019 Directed by Tom Harper, the movie is inspired by the true story of Victorian scientist James Glaisher and the aeronaut Henry Coxwell. Jennifer Tucker, Smithsonian, 9 Dec. 2019 The Aeronauts follows the adventures of James Glaisher, a scientist, and Amelia Wren, a flamboyant aeronaut who lost her husband in a hot air balloon accident. Rachael Bunyan, Time, 9 Dec. 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from French aéronaute, from aéro- aero- + -naute (as in Argonaute argonaut), borrowed from Greek naútēs "sailor" — more at nautical
First Known Use
1784, in the meaning defined above