The terms "spaceship" and "starship" are generally applied only to fictional space vehicles, usually those capable of transporting people.
Some hard science fiction books focus on the technical details of the craft.
The following are some examples of notable space fighters from various media franchises: The Earth Alliance (Starfury fighters) The Minbari Federation The Narn Regime The Centauri Republic The Shadows The Vorlons
In the Star Wars universe, a "starfighter" is a blanket term for all small combat space craft, regardless of shields, hyperspace capability, weaponry (unless it carries none), armor, maneuverability and crew.
"Snubfighter" (a term first used in Star Wars), though no concise definition has been given, often refers to a fighter carrying shielding, secondary weapons systems such as proton torpedoes or concussion missiles, and being hyperspace capable.