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

Several were informed only after the aircraft was airborne, raising concerns among military partners who host US troops under US Central Command. —Essence Staff, Essence, 22 June 2025

Read more: Bunker-Buster Bomb Draws Focus as Trump Weighs Iran Options Multiple B-2s appeared to be airborne and heading across the Pacific from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, the New York Times reported. —Sara Braun, Fortune, 21 June 2025

This is a respiratory virus that could be airborne, so be on guard, particularly in crowded indoor settings. —Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 19 June 2025

Louis warns that surviving in the jungle isn't an option, so Brodie decides their best shot is to get airborne as soon as possible. —EW.com, 13 June 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