Definition
Engine thrust directed forward rather than rearward, used to slow the airplane during the landing roll or, on some turboprops, during ground operations. On turboprop airplanes, reverse thrust is produced by changing the propeller blade angle to a negative pitch so the propeller pushes air forward instead of pulling it rearward.
Plain English
The engine is set up to push air forward instead of backward, which helps slow the airplane down on the runway after landing.
Context Anchor
Pilots encounter reverse thrust during landing rollout, especially in turbine airplanes and turboprop airplanes equipped to use engine power for stopping after touchdown.
Derivation
Reverse comes from Latin reversus, meaning 'turned back.' Thrust is the forward force from the engine. Together, the term describes that forward force being turned around to act backward on the airplane's motion.
Why Pilots Care
It shortens the landing distance required and reduces wear on wheel brakes.
Intuition Check
Reverse thrust does not mean the engine runs backward. It means the engine or propeller system is set so the force on the airplane helps slow it down instead of move it forward.
Example Sentence 1
After touchdown, the pilot moved the power levers into the beta range and then into reverse thrust to slow the airplane on the wet runway.
Example Sentence 2
On a wet runway, reverse thrust provides additional deceleration when wheel brakes are less effective.