rudder

noun

rud·​der ˈrə-dər 

1

: an underwater blade that is positioned at the stern of a boat or ship and controlled by its helm and that when turned causes the vessel's head to turn in the same direction

2

: a movable auxiliary airfoil on an airplane usually attached at the rear end that serves to control direction of flight in the horizontal plane see airplane illustration

3

: a guiding force or strategy

rudderless

ˈrə-dər-ləs 

adjective

Examples of rudder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Jemma and Jeremy Cooper were headed to New Zealand from Fiji when a whale crashed into their 52-foot yacht, damaged a rudder and left the vessel disabled. — New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Aviation experts have marveled that the plane didn't crash after a descent so sharp that the rudder was torn away. — Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026

The attack sent the Boeing 737 MAX into a nosedive that shed 15,000 feet in under a minute, ripping part of the rudder from its tail. — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Passengers and other pilots aboard helped restrain the co-pilot and land the Boeing 737 in Saudi Arabia after a perilous plunge that tore away its rudder. — Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English rother, from Old English rōther paddle; akin to Old English rōwan to row

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rudder

• kadir
• prader
• scudder
• shudder
• udder

Kids Definition

rudder

noun

rud·​der ˈrəd-ər 

: a flat movable piece (as of wood or metal) attached to the rear of a ship or aircraft for steering