Definition
The outermost end of the wing, farthest from the fuselage, where the upper and lower wing surfaces meet and the wing terminates. Its shape and design influence how air spills from the high-pressure area beneath the wing to the low-pressure area above, which affects induced drag and wingtip vortex strength.
Plain English
The far end of the wing — the part sticking out furthest from the side of the airplane.
Context Anchor
Seen in wing component diagrams, preflight inspections, taxi clearance awareness, and discussions of lights or damage near the end of the wing.
Why Pilots Care
Wing tips are the origin point of wingtip vortices that increase drag and create wake turbulence hazards for aircraft behind.
Intuition Check
Do not think of a wing tip as only a sharp point. In aviation use, it means the whole outer end area of the wing.
Example Sentence 1
During the preflight walkaround, the pilot inspected the wing tip for cracks, dents, and a secure position light.
Example Sentence 2
Wingtip vortices trail behind the wing tips of large jets on takeoff.