Definition
A heading issued by air traffic control to provide navigational guidance by radar.
Plain English
A specific compass direction that a controller tells you to fly so they can guide you using their radar.
Context Anchor
You will hear this in radio calls from air traffic control, especially during departure, arrival, traffic avoidance, or when being guided toward an approach.
Derivation
From the Latin 'vector' meaning 'carrier' or 'one who conveys.' In math and physics, a vector carries both direction and magnitude. In ATC use, the word keeps the directional sense -- the controller is 'carrying' the aircraft along a chosen heading.
Why Pilots Care
Vectors allow controllers to maintain safe separation and sequence aircraft efficiently, especially in busy terminal airspace where self-navigation alone is insufficient.
Analogy
Like a traffic officer at an intersection pointing which way to turn instead of you deciding the route yourself.
Intuition Check
Do not read vector here as just a math arrow or a general direction. In ATC use, a vector is a specific heading given to you to fly.
Example Sentence 1
Approach control issued a vector to final, instructing the pilot to fly heading 090 until intercepting the localizer.
Example Sentence 2
The controller issued a left turn vector to avoid the departing traffic.