Definition
The repeating of a clearance, instruction, or other information by the receiver back to the sender, in the same sequence and using the same wording, so the sender can verify it was received and understood correctly.
Plain English
When ATC tells you something important, you say it back to them in your own transmission so they can confirm you heard it right.
Context Anchor
Used in radio communication with air traffic control, especially after receiving a clearance, route, altitude, runway assignment, or hold-short instruction.
Derivation
Plain English compound: 'read' (speak aloud what was given) plus 'back' (return to the sender). The phrase entered radio and aviation procedure to mean returning a message to its origin so accuracy can be checked.
Why Pilots Care
Confirms mutual understanding of critical instructions such as altitudes, headings, or runway assignments, directly reducing the chance of miscommunication errors.
Intuition Check
Do not assume read back means reading something from a page. In aviation, it means repeating a spoken radio message back to confirm it was heard correctly.
Example Sentence 1
Cleared to land, runway two-seven, Cessna Three-Four-Alpha — that read back confirmed she had the correct runway.
Example Sentence 2
After receiving the taxi clearance to runway 22, the student read it back to the ground controller.