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.

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air force British  

noun

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

   2. ( as modifier )

      an air-force base

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

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Etymology

Origin of Air Force

First recorded in 1915–1920

Example Sentences

They include an independent researcher, a long-retired Air Force general, and Casias, the administrative assistant.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

In a Facebook post intended to dispel misinformation, McCasland’s wife said that, although her husband had access to highly classified information in the Air Force, he retired nearly 13 years ago.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

They are often lumped together as "missing scientists", but the list includes an administrative assistant, an Air Force general, an engineer and a custodian, and spans several fields, from researching exoplanets to pharmaceuticals.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

Demand in China has been wobbly, and the company has been trying to sell off piles of unwanted casual sneakers, like Dunks and Air Force 1s.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

The one high point of the months of waiting came when Tyndall Air Force Base honored her aviation skills and honors by letting her fly a military jet, the Delta Dagger TF-102A.

From "Women in Space" by Karen Bush Gibson