airplay

noun

air·​play ˈer-ˌplā How to pronounce airplay (audio)
: the playing of a musical recording on the air by a radio station
a song getting a lot of airplay

Examples of airplay in a Sentence

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.
The number of titles receiving airplay swelled from seven to 18, while stations playing at least one song of his increased from 72 to 94. — Russ Penuell, Billboard, 27 Oct. 2026 The single began receiving local airplay in the Boston-Cleveland-Pittsburgh markets, and within months had gone nationwide. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2026 In a bright spot, country traditionalist Sierra Ferrell attracted more than 8,600, an impressive number given her lack of mainstream airplay. — Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 8 Sep. 2026 Women also traditionally have had a harder time getting recording contracts and radio airplay. — Stephanie Vander Wel, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for airplay

Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of airplay was in 1942

Browse Nearby Words

air plant
airplay
air plot
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Airplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airplay. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of Pyrrhic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All