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
Russia has ramped up its airborne attacks against Ukraine in recent weeks, launching hundreds of drones and missiles nearly every night.
—
Kostya Gak, CNN Money, 29 June 2025
Five minutes later, around 1:39 p.m., data shows the plane airborne near the end of the runway, with no recorded points in between.
—Mika Gröndahl, New York Times, 28 June 2025
These displays contribute significantly to airborne particulate matter, releasing metal particles, sulfur-coal compounds, and smoke that can degrade air quality and pose respiratory risks, particularly for children and those with asthma.
—Dianne Plummer, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
The legislation would, however, allow SWAT team members to cover their faces, along with law enforcement who need to cover uniforms for wildfire gear, or wear medical-grade masks over their faces if there is an airborne threat like smoke, a chemical agent or a virus.
—Alex Stone, ABC News, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for airborne
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Kostya Gak, CNN Money, 29 June 2025
Five minutes later, around 1:39 p.m., data shows the plane airborne near the end of the runway, with no recorded points in between.
—Mika Gröndahl, New York Times, 28 June 2025
These displays contribute significantly to airborne particulate matter, releasing metal particles, sulfur-coal compounds, and smoke that can degrade air quality and pose respiratory risks, particularly for children and those with asthma.
—Dianne Plummer, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
The legislation would, however, allow SWAT team members to cover their faces, along with law enforcement who need to cover uniforms for wildfire gear, or wear medical-grade masks over their faces if there is an airborne threat like smoke, a chemical agent or a virus.
—Alex Stone, ABC News, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for airborne
Cite this Entry
“Airborne.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airborne. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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