airborne

adjective

air·​borne ˈer-ˌbȯrn 

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

This also protects your food from airborne bacteria while keeping it from drying out. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 29 Nov. 2025

With an extended range of more than 1,600 miles (2,575 kilometers) and the ability to stay airborne indefinitely with aerial refueling, the Reapers are expected to provide a substantial boost to US forces in the region. —Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 25 Nov. 2025

Satellite images also show another aircraft destroyed nearby, likely a testbed for Russia’s A-100 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) project. —Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 25 Nov. 2025

After a botched snap to the quarterback Maranatha’s Aaron Tasin went airborne over the pile to grab the loose ball. —Clark Fahrenthold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1637, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for airborne

• adorn
• blackthorn
• broomcorn
• buckhorn
• buckthorn
• careworn
• firstborn
• foodborne
• forborne
• forewarn
• forlorn
• forsworn

Kids Definition

airborne

adjective

air·​borne ˈa(ə)r-ˌbōrn 

-ˌbȯrn, 

ˈe(ə)r-

: supported or transported by air

airborne troops

Medical Definition

airborne

adjective

air·​borne -ˌbōrn 

: carried or transported by the air

airborne allergens

airborne bacteria