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

Wedgetail backup strategy The satellite network will work alongside airborne warning systems such as the Air Force’s E-7 Wedgetail aircraft. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 May 2026

Officials said there was no airborne contamination. —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 29 May 2026

The wind stirs up pollen into the air, keeping counts high, while rain lowers airborne pollen any time of day, affecting allergies. —Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2026

Nampa’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted, 6-1, Tuesday night to approve Amazon’s land use application for a drone delivery hub, checking a major box for the company’s plan to launch airborne package deliveries across much of the western Treasure Valley this year. —Noah Daly updated May 28, Idaho Statesman, 28 May 2026

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