Definition
A cockpit screen that presents several categories of flight information on a single display, with the pilot able to select which information is shown. Typical pages include moving maps, navigation data, engine and system status, weather, traffic, and terrain.
Plain English
One screen in the cockpit that can show many different things, and the pilot chooses what to look at.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft with electronic instrument panels, especially when checking engine information, aircraft systems, maps, or flight status on a cockpit screen.
Derivation
Multi- (Latin: many) + function + display. The name says it plainly: one display that performs many functions, replacing several older single-purpose instruments.
Why Pilots Care
Consolidates information that once required separate instruments, lowering pilot workload and improving situational awareness.
Intuition Check
Do not assume an MFD always shows everything at once. It is a screen that can show many kinds of information, but the visible information depends on the selected page, setup, and installed equipment.
Example Sentence 1
The pilot switched the MFD to the engine page to check oil pressure and cylinder head temperature.
Example Sentence 2
In cruise the MFD showed the navigation map with nearby traffic overlaid.