airman

noun

air·​man ˈer-mən 

plural airmen

1

: a civilian or military pilot, aviator, or aviation technician

2

: an enlisted person in the air force: such as

a

: an enlisted person of one of the four ranks below sergeant

b

: an enlisted person ranking above an airman basic and below an airman first class

Synonyms

• aviator
• birdman
• flier
• flyer
• pilot

Examples of airman in a Sentence

her father was an airman who was shot down in Vietnam

Recent Examples on the Web

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's comments in the Signal chat detailed the sequencing, timing and weapons systems in advance of the Trump administration's March attack on Houthi militants in Yemen, potentially jeopardizing U.S. airmen headed into harm's way. —Graham Underwood, Arkansas Online, 2 Apr. 2025

Only the myriad airmen launching a strike across a hostile shore. —Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2025

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced an online fundraiser for the airman, who is stationed in North Dakota. —Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 27 Mar. 2025

The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of more than 900 African-American military pilots and airmen who flew combat aircraft in World War II. —Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing airman

• airman basic
• airman first class
• senior airman

Rhymes for airman

• chairman
• chairmen
• lehrman
• cochairman

Kids Definition

airman

noun

air·​man -mən 

1

: pilot entry 1 sense 3, aviator

2

a

: an enlisted person in the air force

b

: an enlisted person in the air force with a rank below that of sergeant

especially : one with the rank just below that of airman first class