air power

American  

noun

1. the total military capability of a nation for operations involving the use of aircraft and missiles.

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air power British  

noun

1. the strength of a nation's air force

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Etymology

Origin of air power

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

"This is a new type of approach to air power where you have a crewed fighter giving directions to four or five Ghost Bats flying in formation with it," he said.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

Even Kosovo, often cited as the success story of coercive air power, undermines the case.

From Salon • Mar. 4, 2026

And wars have never been won with air power alone.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

We are all familiar with the historical record: Achieving regime change remotely—through air power alone—is an extraordinarily long probability.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026

The war demonstrated the beginnings of what air power meant, though in November, 1918, it was still in its infancy.

From Aviation in Peace and War by Sykes, Frederick Hugh, Sir