Plain English Meaning

The slowest you can fly before the wings stop holding the aircraft up.

Full Definition

The lowest airspeed at which an aircraft can maintain controlled flight in a given configuration and weight. Below this speed, the wings can no longer produce enough lift to support the aircraft, and a stall occurs.

Context Anchor

Seen in discussions of slow flight, stalls, turns, approaches, and aircraft control.

Derivation

Minimum comes from the Latin word meaning “smallest.” In aviation, it means the lowest usable for a , not simply a number in general.