airlift

noun

air·​lift ˈer-ˌlift How to pronounce airlift (audio)
: a system of transporting cargo or passengers by aircraft often to or from an otherwise inaccessible area
airlift transitive verb

Examples of airlift in a Sentence

an emergency airlift to deliver supplies to the famine victims
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
With long-distance airlift capacity, the Y-20B can rapidly move troops, equipment, and supplies across theaters, strengthening China’s ability to conduct strategic delivery and humanitarian missions alike. Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025 They were transferred to different hospitals in Wyoming and Montana via an airlift. Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025 What To Know Helicopters, boats, drones, and ground crews have collectively rescued hundreds of people and performed over 160 airlifts, with numbers expected to rise as operations continue. Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 July 2025 Another airlift effort — sponsored by Project Dynamo, a nonprofit founded in 2021 by military veterans based in Tampa and Houston — has transported 100 people through Jordan to the United States, said marketing managing director Christy Monahan. David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for airlift

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of airlift was in 1943

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Airlift.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airlift. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

airlift

noun
air·​lift ˈa(ə)r-ˌlift How to pronounce airlift (audio)
ˈe(ə)r-
: a system of transporting cargo or passengers by aircraft to or from an area otherwise impossible to reach
airlift verb

More from Merriam-Webster on airlift

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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