lighter-than-air

adjective

light·​er-than-air ˈlī-tər-thən-ˈer How to pronounce lighter-than-air (audio)
Synonyms of lighter-than-airnext
: 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.
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 Still, Leishman said interest in lighter-than-air ships has been cyclical, waxing and waning over time. Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 22 Nov. 2025 From 1921 to 1935, the Navy maneuvered five lighter-than-air flying giants — alas, to a catastrophic end, spare one. Karen Scanlon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Sep. 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 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 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

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 7 Jan. 2026.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on lighter-than-air

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!