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

See Examples For:

air conditioning

Europe has long enjoyed relatively mild weather, making things like air conditioning a luxury.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026

Southern California residents blasting air conditioning to get through the summer heat waves will get some relief this month, though not from the 100-degree temperatures.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

Across the French capital, where few homes have air conditioning, desperate locals had taped foil survival blankets over their windows, hoping to keep out the fierce sun.

From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026

One example is Aspergillus niger, a fungus that commonly grows in warm, humid environments such as bathrooms and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 2026

A Ford Mustang this was, maroon, with cream-colored bucket seats and air conditioning.

From "Typical American" by Gish Jen