Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Jump To:
  • Air Force
    Air Force
    noun
    the U.S. department consisting of practically all military aviation forces, established July 26, 1947.
  • air force
    air force
Synonyms

Air Force

American  

noun

  1. the U.S. department consisting of practically all military aviation forces, established July 26, 1947.

  2. air force, a similar department in any military organization.

  3. air force, (formerly) the largest unit in the U.S. Army Air Forces.

  4. air force, a unit of U.S. Air Force command between an air division and an air command.

  5. Sometimes air force the military unit of a nation charged with carrying out military operations in the air.

  6. British. Royal Air Force.


air force British  

noun

    1. the branch of a nation's armed services primarily responsible for air warfare

    2. ( as modifier )

      an air-force base

  1. a formation in the US and certain other air forces larger than an air division but smaller than an air command

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Air Force

First recorded in 1915–1920

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink declared this week that the United States has weapons orbiting in outer space.

From Slate Sep. 17, 2026

"I'll be discussing almost everything with him," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, ahead of their meeting on September 24.

From Barron's Sep. 17, 2026

In August, Russia fired 2,800 jet-powered drones, according to the Ukrainian Air Force, almost twice as many as in July.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 17, 2026

At least three aircraft hangars or shelters appear to have been damaged at the Royal Saudi Air Force facility where US-made F-15 fighter jets are based.

From BBC Sep. 15, 2026

An Air Force general blessed with the surname of Power warned a shaken Senate committee that the Russians could render this country defenseless with a missile strike lasting only thirty minutes.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Its air force went to war this year with roughly 265 flyable aircraft, most of them designs that the shah bought before 1979.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 18, 2026

Saudi Arabia spends $70 billion a year on defense and has a capable air force.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 15, 2026

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the state fire department, runs the world’s largest civilian firefighting air force.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 30, 2026

Three judges heard the case at Camp Zeist, a former US air force base in the Netherlands.

From BBC Aug. 24, 2026

Lawrence went into business for himself, opening a convenience store in the basement of an old townhouse; Sonny had graduated from high school, joined the air force, and grown into a handsome ladies’ man.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training