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
Examples of rudder in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Almost every day, every spring and summer, yarns from anguished captains attaching photos of their beat-up rudders fill up a Facebook group called Orca Attack Reports, which has more than 60,000 members.
—
Tomas Weber, Rolling Stone, 18 May 2024
The seafarers were out on the 50-foot Alboran Cognac when the whales started slamming the hull, eventually causing a leak and damaging the rudder.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 16 May 2024
Passengers aboard the 50-foot Alboran Cognac felt blows to the yacht’s hull and saw that the rudder had been damaged.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 May 2024
The Dali experiences a loss of electrical power to its lighting and most equipment, resulting in its propeller stopping along with its three steering pumps, which means the rudder cannot be moved.
—Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 15 May 2024
One of the pilots ordered the rudder turned at the last minute, but since the main engine remained shut down, there was no propulsion to assist with steering, the report says.
—Lea Skene, Fortune, 15 May 2024
Since ships must travel relative to moving water itself for any rudder effect, the fact that the ship in question, the Dali, seemed to be traveling fast was understandable and not reckless.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 31 Mar. 2024
While, the steering system is triply redundant, Collette notes, each of the backups is dependent on electricity to run pumps that then pressurize the hydraulics and activate the ship's massive rudder.
—Jackie Northam, NPR, 27 Mar. 2024
Sumwalt also said the ship's audio recording device likely captured conversations happening on the ship as well as other data like the angle of the rudder.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2024
Tomas Weber, Rolling Stone, 18 May 2024
The seafarers were out on the 50-foot Alboran Cognac when the whales started slamming the hull, eventually causing a leak and damaging the rudder.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 16 May 2024
Passengers aboard the 50-foot Alboran Cognac felt blows to the yacht’s hull and saw that the rudder had been damaged.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 May 2024
The Dali experiences a loss of electrical power to its lighting and most equipment, resulting in its propeller stopping along with its three steering pumps, which means the rudder cannot be moved.
—Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 15 May 2024
One of the pilots ordered the rudder turned at the last minute, but since the main engine remained shut down, there was no propulsion to assist with steering, the report says.
—Lea Skene, Fortune, 15 May 2024
Since ships must travel relative to moving water itself for any rudder effect, the fact that the ship in question, the Dali, seemed to be traveling fast was understandable and not reckless.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 31 Mar. 2024
While, the steering system is triply redundant, Collette notes, each of the backups is dependent on electricity to run pumps that then pressurize the hydraulics and activate the ship's massive rudder.
—Jackie Northam, NPR, 27 Mar. 2024
Sumwalt also said the ship's audio recording device likely captured conversations happening on the ship as well as other data like the angle of the rudder.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rudder.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near rudder
Cite this Entry
“Rudder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rudder. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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