Definition
An aircraft that has been formally entered onto the civil aircraft registry of the United States and issued an N-number (registration number beginning with the letter N) by the Federal Aviation Administration. Registration establishes the aircraft's nationality as the United States for legal, operational, and treaty purposes, and subjects the aircraft to U.S. aviation regulations regardless of where in the world it is operated.
Plain English
An aircraft that is officially listed as belonging to the United States in the FAA's records and carries a tail number starting with 'N.' Because it is registered in the U.S., it must follow U.S. aviation rules anywhere it flies.
Context Anchor
You will see this term in FAA discussions about which aircraft the FAA oversees, what documents must be carried, and which rules apply to an aircraft.
Derivation
Registered' comes from the Latin regestum, meaning 'recorded' or 'entered into a list.' A U.S.-registered aircraft is literally one that has been recorded on the United States' official list of civil aircraft.
Why Pilots Care
Determines that the aircraft must comply with U.S. airworthiness, maintenance, and operating rules regardless of where the owner resides.
Intuition Check
Registered does not mean the aircraft was built in the United States or is currently located there. It means the aircraft is officially listed in the United States aircraft registry.
Example Sentence 1
Because it is a U.S.-registered aircraft, the Cessna must comply with FAA regulations even while operating in Mexico.
Example Sentence 2
Any U.S.-registered aircraft must undergo annual inspections to remain legal for flight.