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

After major floods, respiratory illnesses increase due to mold growth and the spread of airborne allergens. —Bill Frist, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025

Outfit the cavernous interior of that van with camper equipment that folds against the wall to fit the flying car in, then launch airborne day trips or overnighters to more distant parts of the mountain or forest inaccessible by ground vehicle. —New Atlas, 14 Jan. 2025

The delay in airborne responses can threaten firefighters on the ground, residents, and property in nearby communities, and can cause wildfires to grow larger, the FAA added. —Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025

The bird’s mating display consists of similar airborne acrobatics. —Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2025

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