airway

noun

air·​way ˈer-ˌwā How to pronounce airway (audio)
1
: a passage for a current of air (as in a mine or to the lungs)
2
: a designated route along which airplanes fly from airport to airport
especially : such a route equipped with navigational aids
3
4
: a channel of a designated radio frequency for broadcasting or other radio communication

Examples of airway in a Sentence

a patient with a partially blocked airway
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But the pontiff never required a tracheal tube to keep his airway open. Emma Bowman, NPR, 22 Mar. 2025 Asthma is a condition that makes breathing difficult due to swelling and tightening of the airways. Carisa Brewster, Verywell Health, 20 Mar. 2025 Those with respiratory illnesses should avoid both warm and cold windy environments to avoid swelling of airways or irritation of lungs, according to the American Lung Association. Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Mar. 2025 The mouth is connected directly to the lungs through the trachea, so any kind of aspiration into the lower airway could be linked to an infection. Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for airway

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of airway was in 1800

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Airway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airway. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

airway

noun
air·​way -ˌwā How to pronounce airway (audio)
1
: a passage for a current of air
especially : one through which air passes to and from the lungs
2
: a regular route for aircraft
especially : one equipped with aids for guiding aircraft
3

Medical Definition

airway

noun
air·​way -ˌwā How to pronounce airway (audio)
: a passageway for air into or out of the lungs
specifically : a device passed into the trachea by way of the mouth or nose or through an incision to maintain a clear respiratory passageway (as during anesthesia, convulsions, or in obstructive laryngitis) see upper airway

More from Merriam-Webster on airway

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