lighter-than-air
adjective
light·er-than-air
ˈlī-tər-thən-ˈer 
: of less weight than the air displaced
Examples of lighter-than-air in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But even at Thanksgiving, this lighter-than-air pie filling is welcome amid a sea of other, thicker custard pies.
—
Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026
That bill would have allowed for biodegradable lighter-than-air gas balloons made with non-latex material to be more environmentally friendly.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Jan. 2026
The city already has regulations including restrictions on single-use plastic bags for carryout, plastic straws and stirrers, and balloons filled with helium or other lighter-than-air gasses.
—Luke Harold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
Still, Leishman said interest in lighter-than-air ships has been cyclical, waxing and waning over time.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 22 Nov. 2025
Once denoting a specific type of cake, the name Bundt now conjures images of uniform mounds of all flavors, from the traditional dense party cake to lighter-than-air angel cakes.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Aug. 2025
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
But by the late 19th century, flying via lighter-than-air gases was already close to 100 years old.
—Erik Ofgang, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 June 2024
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Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026
That bill would have allowed for biodegradable lighter-than-air gas balloons made with non-latex material to be more environmentally friendly.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Jan. 2026
The city already has regulations including restrictions on single-use plastic bags for carryout, plastic straws and stirrers, and balloons filled with helium or other lighter-than-air gasses.
—Luke Harold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
Still, Leishman said interest in lighter-than-air ships has been cyclical, waxing and waning over time.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 22 Nov. 2025
Once denoting a specific type of cake, the name Bundt now conjures images of uniform mounds of all flavors, from the traditional dense party cake to lighter-than-air angel cakes.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Aug. 2025
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
But by the late 19th century, flying via lighter-than-air gases was already close to 100 years old.
—Erik Ofgang, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 June 2024
Cite this Entry
“Lighter-than-air.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lighter-than-air. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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