heavier-than-air

adjective

heav·i·er-than-air ˈhe-vē-ər-ṯẖən-ˈer

: of greater weight than the air displaced

Examples of heavier-than-air in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The first heavier-than-air flight (in which airflow over a surface like a plane wing creates aerodynamic lift) only took place in 1903, when the Wright Brothers conducted their famous flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. —

Erik Ofgang, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 June 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'heavier-than-air.' 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

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of heavier-than-air was in 1903

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Heavier-than-air.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heavier-than-air. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation