airport

¹ American  

[air-pawrt, -pohrt] / ˈɛərˌpɔrt, -ˌpoʊrt /

noun

1. a tract of land or water with facilities for the landing, takeoff, shelter, supply, and repair of aircraft, especially one used for receiving or discharging passengers and cargo at regularly scheduled times.

---

airport ² American  

[air-pawrt, -pohrt] / ˈɛərˌpɔrt, -ˌpoʊrt /

noun

Nautical.

1. a porthole designed to be opened to the outside air.

---

airport British  

/ ˈɛəˌpɔːt /

noun

1. a landing and taking-off area for civil aircraft, usually with surfaced runways and aircraft maintenance and passenger facilities

---

Etymology

Origin of airport¹

1915–20; air ¹ + port ¹, on the model of seaport

Origin of airport²

First recorded in 1780–90; air ¹ + port ⁴

Example Sentences

Because the countries had no official diplomatic ties, it took months of negotiations to arrange that game, and the Iranians required special fingerprinting and security exemptions at the airport.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 14, 2026

U.S. officials said they had found alleged links to suspected members of terrorist organizations when he was subjected to additional screening at the airport.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

"It pains us when we hear an aeroplane flying overhead," Patni said, adding that their home was near the flight path of the airport in Ahmedabad, the main city in the state of Gujarat.

From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026

Tusk has made clear that the airport is not closed to Zelensky: "I am not going to tell him where and how to fly."

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

You aren’t allowed to bring fruits or vegetables through airport security, but you can purchase whole pineapples at the gate—a fact I find hilarious.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

Related Words

• airfield
• airstrip
• installation
• runway