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

Measles is highly contagious because of its airborne spread. —Christopher O'Donnell, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2025

Capable of remaining airborne for over 24 hours, the Triton is equipped with advanced sensors, including a radar that enables 360-degree surveillance over vast areas. —Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025

What else to know about measles Measles is an airborne disease that spreads when an infected person breathes, coughs, sneezes or talks. —Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2025

The measles virus is airborne and extremely contagious. —Sara Moniuszko, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1637, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for airborne

• adorn
• blackthorn
• broomcorn
• buckhorn
• buckthorn
• careworn
• firstborn
• foodborne
• forborne
• forewarn
• forlorn
• forsworn

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