airway

noun

air·way ˈer-ˌwā

Synonyms of airway next

: a passage for a current of air (as in a mine or to the lungs)

: a designated route along which airplanes fly from airport to airport

especially : such a route equipped with navigational aids

: airline

: a channel of a designated radio frequency for broadcasting or other radio communication

Examples of airway in a Sentence

a patient with a partially blocked airway

Recent Examples on the Web This allows positive airway pressure, which can be especially helpful in treating OSA. —

Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 6 Sep. 2023 Wheezing Cough from Bronchiolitis Bronchiolitis happens when the airways become inflamed and constricted—usually from a virus that reaches the small airways in the lungs. —

Nicole Harris, Parents, 25 Aug. 2023 Protecting babies’ developing airways may have additional benefits beyond preventing severe RSV. —

Helen Branswell, STAT, 21 Aug. 2023 The cause of death was respiratory failure due to a blocked airway. —

Sandra Rose Salathe, Peoplemag, 16 Sep. 2023 Other Infections Wheeze is a symptom of a lower airway infection that can be caused by many viruses, including COVID-19. —

Nicole Harris, Parents, 25 Aug. 2023 In serious cases, however, an infection can lead to pneumonia or bronchiolitis, which inflames airways and clogs them with mucus. —

Aria Bendix, NBC News, 21 Aug. 2023 An autopsy found traces of manure in Gómez’s airway. —

Maryam Jameel, ProPublica, 25 Oct. 2023 Snoring is the result of restricted airflow through the nose or throat, which leads to the vibration of tissues in the upper airway, according to Harris. —

Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 24 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'airway.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of airway was in 1800

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Airway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airway. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.

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Kids Definition

airway

noun

air·way -ˌwā

: a passage for a current of air

especially : one through which air passes to and from the lungs

: a regular route for aircraft

especially : one equipped with aids for guiding aircraft

: airline

Medical Definition

airway

noun

air·way -ˌwā

: a passageway for air into or out of the lungs

specifically : a device passed into the trachea by way of the mouth or nose or through an incision to maintain a clear respiratory passageway (as during anesthesia, convulsions, or in obstructive laryngitis) see upper airway