airborne

adjective

air·​borne ˈer-ˌbȯrn How to pronounce airborne (audio)
1
: done or being in the air : being off the ground: such as
a
: carried through the air (as by an aircraft)
b
: supported especially by aerodynamic forces or propelled through the air by force
a plane becoming airborne
c
: transported or carried by the air
airborne allergens
2
: trained for deployment by air and especially by parachute
airborne troops

Examples of airborne in a Sentence

Once the plane was airborne I loosened my seat belt. Thousands of airborne troops parachuted behind enemy lines.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The vehicle became airborne, struck a tree, then hit a barrier wall and flipped. Elainie Barraza, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 May 2025 Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. Devi Shastri, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025 The child, who is under the age of 4, contracted the airborne illness outside of the United States, according to the state’s Florida Health Charts website. Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 23 May 2025 It’s designed to capture nearly all (99.9%) airborne germs via its HEPA filter while a UV-C light reduces viruses and bacteria even in large spaces. Pamela Brill, Parents, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for airborne

Word History

First Known Use

1637, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of airborne was in 1637

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Airborne.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airborne. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

airborne

adjective
air·​borne ˈa(ə)r-ˌbōrn How to pronounce airborne (audio)
-ˌbȯrn,
ˈe(ə)r-
: supported or transported by air
airborne troops

Medical Definition

airborne

adjective
air·​borne -ˌbōrn How to pronounce airborne (audio)
: carried or transported by the air
airborne allergens
airborne bacteria

More from Merriam-Webster on airborne

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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