noun

yaw

noun

The rotation of a ship, aircraft, or vehicle from side to side around its vertical axis.

"Turbulence caused a noticeable yaw in the aircraft's nose."

verb

To swing off course from side to side.

"The small boat yawed wildly in the crosswind."

How to Use Yaw

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSwinging left and right off a straight course, or the technical term for that side-to-side rotation in ships and aircraft.

Common mistake

In aviation, yaw (side to side), pitch (nose up/down), and roll (tilting side to side) are three distinct axes of movement — don't mix them up.

Easily confused with

pitch → roll →

yawed past tense, yaws plural, yaws plural, Yaws plural, yaws singular

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Test yourself on “yaw” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Can you complete this real example?

Turbulence caused a noticeable _____ in the aircraft's nose.

Origin uncertain, first recorded in the mid-1500s; possibly linked to an Old Norse word meaning to chase or drive back and forth.