airman

noun

air·​man ˈer-mən 

plural airmen

1

: a civilian or military pilot, aviator, or aviation technician

2

: an enlisted person in the air force: such as

a

: an enlisted person of one of the four ranks below senior airman

b

: an enlisted person ranking above an airman basic and below an airman first class

Synonyms of airman

• pilot
• aviator

Examples of airman in a Sentence

her father was an airman who was shot down in Vietnam

Recent Examples on the Web

There is also the balance of ensuring soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen’s well-being is kept a priority as well. —Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 19 Jan. 2026

According to the Minnesota National Guard's 2024 annual report, the organization includes nearly 13,000 citizen-soldiers and airmen. —Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 18 Jan. 2026

They were escorted from the Middle East by Iowa Guard soldiers and airmen-including Staff Sgt. —Gov. Kim Reynolds, Des Moines Register, 13 Jan. 2026

Indiana members will replace soldiers and airmen from other states who have been mobilized since August. —Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing airman

• airman basic
• airman first class
• senior airman

Rhymes for airman

• chairman
• chairmen
• lehrman
• cochairman

Kids Definition

airman

noun

air·​man -mən 

1

: pilot entry 1 sense 3, aviator

2

a

: an enlisted person in the air force

b

: an enlisted person in the air force with a rank below that of sergeant

especially : one with the rank just below that of airman first class