airway

noun air·way \ -ˌwā \

Updated on: 14 Apr 2018

Definition of airway

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

2 : a designated route along which airplanes fly from airport to airport; especially : such a route equipped with navigational aids

3 : airline

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

See airway defined for English-language learners

See airway defined for kids

Examples of airway in a Sentence

a patient with a partially blocked airway

Recent Examples of airway from the Web

For example, if choking, a laryngoscope can be inserted to view the obstruction and assist emergency response teams in clearing the airway.

— milwaukee, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "First Choice Ingredients contributes to Menomonee Falls Fire Department’s life-saving efforts," 10 Apr. 2018
Nary an instance of emergency room visits or poison control queries or pediatricians receiving frantic calls from parents whose teens have prophylactics blocking their airways.

— heidi stevens, chicagotribune.com, "Calm down about the condom challenge, grown-ups," 2 Apr. 2018
In patients who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, throat muscles inadvertently relax during sleep, blocking the airway.

— shari rudavsky, Indianapolis Star, "Apnea woes? New implanted device may restore uninterrupted sleep," 27 Mar. 2018
Within moments, a physician who happened to be in the crowd began working to clear Boughton’s airway, while Srinivasan got ready to begin chest compressions.

— neil vigdor, courant.com, "Gratitude And Differing Accounts Of A Candidate's Health Scare," 20 Mar. 2018
Connell, born with a rare airway disorder, passed away Jan. 23 in Phoenix.

— steve dimeglio, USA TODAY, "In-contention Rickie Fowler honors Griffin Connell at Phoenix Open," 1 Feb. 2018
Basic first aid and obstructed airway management for conscious choking adult/child and infant will be covered.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Enfield Edition," 27 Mar. 2018
His sinuses were crushed upon impact, his wife said, blocking his airways and restricting the oxygen to his brain.

— laurel andrews, Anchorage Daily News, "Pilot who ‘buzzed’ Mat-Su man with float plane, causing severe brain injury, sentenced for assault," 20 Mar. 2018
Many common routes became designated as official airways, or highways in the sky.

— Popular Mechanics, "How To Fix Flying," 18 July 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'airway.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of airway

1800

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Aeronautics/Aerospace Terms

apron, corridor, dirigible, fishtail, flat-hat, vector

AIRWAY Defined for English Language Learners

airway

noun

Definition of airway for English Language Learners

medical : the area in the throat through which air passes to and from the lungs
: a route along which airplanes regularly fly
—used in the names of some airlines

AIRWAY Defined for Kids

airway

noun air·way \ ˈer-ˌwā \

Definition of airway for Students

1 : the passage through which air moves from the nose or mouth to the lungs in breathing

2 : a route along which airplanes regularly fly

3 : airline

Medical Dictionary

airway

noun air·way \ -ˌwā \

medical Definition of airway

: 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