the U.S. department consisting of practically all military aviation forces, established July 26, 1947.
air force, a similar department in any military organization.
air force, (formerly) the largest unit in the U.S. Army Air Forces.
air force, a unit of U.S. Air Force command between an air division and an air command.
Sometimes air force the military unit of a nation charged with carrying out military operations in the air.
British. Royal Air Force.
the branch of a nation's armed services primarily responsible for air warfare
( as modifier )
an air-force base
a formation in the US and certain other air forces larger than an air division but smaller than an air command
First recorded in 1915–1920
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One Monday, Trump said he has “plenty of time” to deal with Iran and that “we are talking right now,” adding, “there’s a good chance that something could happen.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
The results included $280 million in losses on the VC-25B program for the presidential plane, Air Force One, which has been beset by delays and cost overruns.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
"I have a lot of patience... We'll see what happens," he said aboard Air Force One.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
"The first time I heard it I was expecting that the Nigerian Air Force... had come to rescue us," he said.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
And Britain’s Royal Air Force, in a gallant and furious fight against the Luftwaffe, turned out to be a stronger opponent than Germany had expected.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
A surface-to-air battery operated by Greek personnel in Saudi Arabia downed two ballistic missiles and a drone over Yanbu, the Greek air force media office said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
They expected that their vastly superior, Western-supplied air force would soon be able to bomb the Houthis to the negotiating table and that the rebels would quickly sue for peace.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
Ukraine's air force issues a daily tally of the weapons Moscow launches alongside the number intercepted.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026
Even a country without a conventional air force can now achieve localized air superiority thanks to drones.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
An air force man, he could match Lewis's navy schedule with ease.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
