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.
The project involves barge deliveries, helicopter airlifts, and long-term maintenance plans, the kind of durable investment Puerto Rico’s public grid has yet to receive. Israel Melendez Ayala, Time, 28 Feb. 2026 Smaller aerial resupply missions could complement larger airlift and ground transport efforts. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Feb. 2026 The Air Force is rolling out a new color palette across its executive airlift fleet, including the next-generation Air Force One aircraft. David Shepardson, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026 Continue reading … -- POLITICS ATOM ADVANCE — Military airlifts next-gen nuclear reactor to Utah for testing and evaluation. FOXNews.com, 16 Feb. 2026 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

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Cite this Entry

“Airlift.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airlift. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.

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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