Starship vs. Spacecraft — Classification Terminology

Type: Systems — Terminology/Classification Status: Canon (confirmed by creator)

Definition (refined by creator)

A "starship" is any spacecraft devoted exclusively to military operations. It must be either shielded or armed — preferably both. If a vessel is used solely for military purposes but is neither shielded nor armed, it is still classified as a "spacecraft," not a starship.

Exception — Exploration under Starfleet: ✅ Spacecraft used solely for exploration are also classified as "starships" if they operate under the jurisdiction of Starfleet — in practice, this most likely means Starfleet-registered vessels operating with an exploration focus, regardless of whether they are shielded or armed.

Civilian ships are always called "spacecraft" regardless of whether they carry arms or shielding.

Appearances

• Creator-provided detail

Open Questions

• Full Starfleet organizational structure not yet detailed