Definition
A landing made when the wind is blowing across the runway rather than straight down it, requiring the pilot to use control inputs (typically a sideslip or a crab corrected to a sideslip at touchdown) to keep the airplane aligned with the runway centerline and to prevent sideways drift during the approach, flare, and rollout.
Plain English
Landing on a runway when the wind is pushing the airplane sideways. The pilot has to fly the airplane in a slightly tilted or angled way so it stays lined up with the runway and doesn't drift off to one side as it touches down.
Context Anchor
Used during approach and landing when wind direction is not lined up with the runway direction.
Derivation
Crosswind = a wind that crosses the runway rather than running along it. The 'cross' part comes from the Old English idea of one line cutting across another. The term simply names a landing made under that crossing-wind condition.
Why Pilots Care
Failure to correct for the crosswind can cause the airplane to drift off the runway centerline, resulting in loss of directional control or a runway excursion.
Grounding Statement
Picture rolling a shopping cart straight down a painted line while a steady side breeze keeps trying to push it off the line.
Intuition Check
Crosswind landings are not just normal landings on a windy day. The key point is that the wind has a sideways component across the runway, and that sideways push must be corrected before and during touchdown.
Example Sentence 1
With the wind reported at 270 at 15 knots and runway 30 in use, the student briefed a crosswind landing and planned to use a sideslip during the final portion of the approach.
Example Sentence 2
Strong crosswind landings demand prompt rudder and aileron inputs after touchdown to prevent the upwind wing from rising during rollout.