Definition
An aircraft engine mounted so that its propeller faces aft and pushes the aircraft forward through the air, rather than pulling it. The propeller is positioned behind the engine and behind its mounting point on the airframe.
Plain English
An engine arranged so the propeller is at the back and pushes the aircraft from behind, instead of being at the front and pulling it.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft design, preflight inspection, and maintenance discussions when describing where the engine and propeller are mounted.
Derivation
From the everyday sense of 'push.' The propeller sits behind the engine and pushes air rearward, driving the aircraft forward — the opposite of a 'tractor' arrangement, where the propeller pulls.
Why Pilots Care
The layout changes propeller clearance, aircraft balance, and forward visibility compared with tractor engines.
Intuition Check
“Pusher” does not mean the engine itself presses on the airplane like a hand pushing a cart. It means the propeller’s thrust drives the aircraft forward from the rear.
Example Sentence 1
The Cessna 337 has an unusual layout, with one tractor engine in the nose and one pusher engine in the tail.
Example Sentence 2
The pusher engine on the homebuilt gave the pilot an unobstructed view of the runway during approach.