Definition
A cockpit screen in a glass-cockpit aircraft that presents multiple categories of flight information on a single display, typically including a moving map, navigation data, engine and system parameters, traffic, terrain, and weather. The MFD is normally paired with a Primary Flight Display (PFD) and allows the pilot to select which information is shown through soft keys, knobs, or a touchscreen.
Plain English
One screen in the cockpit that can show several different kinds of information, such as a map, engine readings, weather, and traffic, depending on what the pilot wants to look at.
Context Anchor
Seen in airplanes with electronic cockpit displays, especially when the pilot selects map, engine, system, weather, or flight planning pages.
Derivation
Multi means many. Function means job or role. The screen has many jobs, not just one, which is what sets it apart from older single-purpose instruments.
Why Pilots Care
It reduces workload and improves situational awareness by replacing multiple dedicated instruments with one flexible display.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “multi-function” means the display shows everything at once or makes decisions for the pilot. It means the screen can be changed to show different types of information.
Example Sentence 1
Before takeoff, the pilot configured the MFD to show the moving map on the left half and the engine page on the right half.
Example Sentence 2
Engine temperatures and navigation route appeared together on the multi-function display during cruise.