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

Flights already airborne are continuing to their destinations. —Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 19 July 2024

In 2023, airborne imaging surveys revealed a larger city hidden in the region: The ancient site, which researchers dubbed Ocomtún, contained multiple pyramids dating to the Classic period (roughly 200 to 900 C.E.). —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 July 2024

The virus may also enter people’s eyes through respiratory droplets or aerosols (tiny airborne droplets). —Aria Bendix, NBC News, 18 July 2024

Hotter air temperatures can force airlines to carry fewer cargo or passengers to get their planes airborne, due to hot temperatures' effects on generating lift. —Andrew Freedman, Axios, 16 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1637, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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