tarmac

1 of 2

noun

tar·​mac ˈtär-ˌmak 

: a tarmacadam road, apron, or runway

Tarmac

2 of 2

trademark

—used for a bituminous binder for roads

Examples of tarmac in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The attack was a show of force and was criticized for using expensive precision ammunition to hit the airport tarmac. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 29 July 2026

Mia Gonzales-Swinton stood on a Dover Air Force tarmac freighted with grief, keeping her 4-year-old daughter close in front of her. — Chris Kenning, USA Today, 26 July 2026

The $20 million capital improvement construction project included full demolition and reconstruction of the base’s aging tarmac and new underground fire-retardant reloading bays. — Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 2026

This ribbon of tarmac in the Ardennes is one of the sport’s historic venues, featuring in the first F1 season way back in 1950. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 20 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

from Tarmac, a trademark

First Known Use

Noun

1919, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tarmac

• the tarmac

Rhymes for tarmac

• aback
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback
• cutback

Kids Definition

tarmac

noun

tar·​mac ˈtär-ˌmak 

: a road, apron, or runway paved with layers of crushed stone covered with tar