compressed air

noun

: air under pressure greater than that of the atmosphere

Examples of compressed air in a Sentence

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.
For example, a team was partially successful in synthesizing them using gunpowder and compressed air on graphite disks. Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 9 Aug. 2025 Huffing compressed air can cause a brief high with dangerous side effects including paralysis, according to the American Addiction Centers. Peter Sblendorio New York Daily News (tns), al, 8 Nov. 2022 The air guns then fire compressed air that creates sound pulses that reverberate off the sea floor and provide subsurface images. Washington Post, 26 Apr. 2022 That compressed air inside the pump and shoved water into a tube. John Fialka, Scientific American, 8 Sep. 2021 See All Example Sentences for compressed air

Word History

First Known Use

1669, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of compressed air was in 1669

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Compressed air.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compressed%20air. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

compressed air

noun
com·​pressed air
kəm-ˌprest-
: air under pressure greater than that of the atmosphere

Medical Definition

compressed air

noun
: air under pressure greater than that of the atmosphere
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!