air force

noun

1
: the military organization of a nation for air warfare
2
: a unit of the U.S. Air Force higher than a division and lower than a command

Examples of air force in a Sentence

the combined allied air forces
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.
All three have served in their respective nations’ air forces. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2026 That was roughly double the number of drones that Russia launched at Ukraine overnight, according to the Ukrainian air force. — CBS News, 18 June 2026 Russia targets Ukraine’s civilian gas stations Russia launched a ballistic missile and 90 long-range drones at Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian air force said. — Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2026 For the entire war, Ukraine has fought without the kind of modern air force the United States and NATO would consider essential to large-scale combat operations. — David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for air force

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of air force was in 1911

Browse Nearby Words

airfoil
air force
air force blue
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Air force.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/air%20force. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

air force

noun
: the military organization of a nation for air warfare

More from Merriam-Webster on air force

Nglish: Translation of air force for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about air force

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