lighter-than-air

adjective

light·​er-than-air ˈlī-tər-thən-ˈer How to pronounce lighter-than-air (audio)
: of less weight than the air displaced

Examples of lighter-than-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.
The tragic Hindenburg disaster of 1937, which resulted in the death of 36 people and effectively ended passenger airship travel, cast a long-lasting shadow over lighter-than-air technology. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 May 2025 That all being said, if the claims are true, the relatively cheap cost and ease of manufacture of lighter-than-air drones could dramatically increase the chances of detecting stealth aircraft in flight. Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2025 Flavors of coffee and caramel permeate this rich yet lighter-than-air double chocolate cream. Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 27 Dec. 2024 Flavors of coffee and caramel permeate this rich yet lighter-than-air double chocolate cream. Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 27 Dec. 2024 From 1921 to 1935, five lighter-than-air giants sailed the skies and then suffered catastrophic structural failures or were scrapped. Karen Scanlon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2024 There are several Latin American influences, too, such as the lighter-than-air Tres Leches cake and the tiger prawns yello anticucho. Michele Robson, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024 The lighter-than-air craft then edges toward the road and strikes the power line, causing several electrical sparks to fly. Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 22 Mar. 2024 Green infrastructure development: My focus will be on fostering business-friendly green infrastructure, including sustainable communities and eco-friendly transportation like lighter-than-air technologies, rail and e-bikes to minimize carbon emissions. The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lighter-than-air was in 1901

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lighter-than-air.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lighter-than-air. Accessed 20 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

lighter-than-air

adjective
: able to fly by the use of a gas (as helium or hot air) less dense than the air that would occupy the same amount of space

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