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

While Israel's Iron Dome is tailored for short-range missiles, the White House said the US version will guard against all kinds of airborne attacks. —Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 29 Jan. 2025

The airborne respiratory illness is usually transmitted during prolonged close contact with an infected person. —Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 28 Jan. 2025

Mel Gibson's airborne action-thriller Flight Risk debuted in the top spot at this weekend's box office. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 26 Jan. 2025

Therefore, if a number of people are present in a room with little or no ventilation, all of that airborne moisture can cause the room to feel uncomfortably stuffy and humid. —Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 25 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