What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
starship
Example
The crew of the starship Enterprise embarked on a five-year mission to explore strange new worlds. [starship: noun]
Example
The starship's engines hummed as it accelerated to warp speed. [starship: adjective]
spaceship
Example
The spaceship was launched into orbit to study the effects of zero gravity on plant growth. [spaceship: noun]
Example
The astronauts boarded the spaceship and prepared for liftoff. [spaceship: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Spaceship is more commonly used than starship in everyday language, as it is a more general term that can be applied to a wider range of spacecraft. Starship is more specific and is primarily used in science fiction contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between starship and spaceship?
Both starship and spaceship can be used in formal and informal contexts, but spaceship is more versatile and can be employed in a wider range of situations.
