airborne

adjective

air·​borne ˈer-ˌbȯrn 

1

: done or being in the air : being off the ground: such as

a

: carried through the air (as by an aircraft)

b

: supported especially by aerodynamic forces or propelled through the air by force

a plane becoming airborne

c

: transported or carried by the air

airborne allergens

2

: trained for deployment by air and especially by parachute

airborne troops

Examples of airborne in a Sentence

Once the plane was airborne I loosened my seat belt.

Thousands of airborne troops parachuted behind enemy lines.

Recent Examples on the Web

Equipped with eight wheels, Strykers enable swift attacks and counter-offensives and are expected to reinforce Ukraine's airborne brigades, particularly those engaged in Russia's Kursk region. —Katya Soldak, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

The missile was airborne for about 86 minutes, the longest recorded of any North Korean missile, the ministry said. —Nina Turner, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024

Avoid shaking contaminated clothing, including washable personal protective equipment, before laundering to prevent contaminants from being airborne. —Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2024

Their functionality can be affected by dust, airborne particles and microbes, and even temperature and humidity. —New Atlas, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1637, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

airborne

adjective

air·​borne ˈa(ə)r-ˌbōrn 

-ˌbȯrn,

ˈe(ə)r-

: supported or transported by air

airborne troops

Medical Definition

airborne

adjective

air·​borne -ˌbōrn 

: carried or transported by the air

airborne allergens

airborne bacteria