airpower

noun

air·​pow·​er ˈer-ˌpau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce airpower (audio)
: the military strength of a nation's air force

Examples of airpower in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Israel thus sees airpower as a way to minimize its forces’ casualties on the ground, and so restricting it at the potential cost of more Israeli lives is a tough political sell. Raphael S. Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2024 At present, with Ukraine short of weapons and munitions because of the US Congress’ not passing a $60 billion package of aid, the Russians are also making their very substantial advantage in artillery, armor and airpower felt. Tim Lister, CNN, 18 Feb. 2024 Unable to develop reliable local allies who could successfully counter well-disciplined, albeit extreme, forces on the ground, Saudi Arabia relied on airpower, which was largely ineffective in holding territory against the Houthis and wound up hitting many inappropriate and unjustifiable targets. Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2024 For Ukraine, that includes airpower, both fighter jets and drones; electronic-warfare capability to counter Russian jamming; and counter-battery fire to locate and target Russian artillery systems. Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2024 To the chagrin of airpower enthusiasts, those who opposed building out the army’s airpower capabilities had new evidence to stymie investment in aircraft when the game was over. Jacquelyn Schneider, Foreign Affairs, 26 Dec. 2023 Facilitators restricted how aircraft could be used, however, effectively assuring that airpower played very little role in the outcome of the game. Jacquelyn Schneider, Foreign Affairs, 26 Dec. 2023 For example, in the early twentieth century, U.S. Army advocates of airpower called for the integration of the airplane into war games at the Army War College, hoping that this would help bolster their case. Jacquelyn Schneider, Foreign Affairs, 26 Dec. 2023 But since Ukraine began its major counteroffensive in June, both countries agree that Russia’s tactical airpower poses a growing problem for Ukraine’s ground forces. Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 1 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'airpower.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of airpower was in 1908

Dictionary Entries Near airpower

Cite this Entry

“Airpower.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airpower. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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