air conditioning

American  

[air kuhn-dish-uh-ning] / ˈɛər kənˈdɪʃ ə nɪŋ /

noun

1. a system or process for controlling the temperature, humidity, and sometimes the purity of the air in an interior, as of an office, theater, laboratory, or house, especially one capable of cooling.

2. an air-conditioning system or unit.

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air conditioning British  

noun

1. a system or process for controlling the temperature and sometimes the humidity and purity of the air in a house, etc

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Other Word Forms

• air conditioner
  noun
• air-conditioning
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of air conditioning

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

At that time, there was only one boat a month, and the journey took up to six days without any air conditioning, while passengers today can pay for more comfortable sleeping cabins.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

Electricity demand for air conditioning units is expected to surge, raising concerns about the country’s ability to generate sufficient power.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 17, 2026

With COVID, people could get sick just by breathing in aerosolized viral particles floating around and pushed across an entire room by an air conditioning vent.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

Also, the energy shock unleashed by the conflict has already prompted parts of Asia and the Middle East to limit air conditioning as a way to conserve energy.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 29, 2026

He saw no sign of air conditioning, which meant it must have been a thousand degrees in there.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan