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air war

American  

noun

  1. military operations by combatants involving the use of aircraft.

  2. those phases or aspects of a war in which aircraft play a part.


Etymology

Origin of air war

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In the weeks leading up to this spring’s U.S.-Israeli air war, Trump’s envoys negotiated with Iranian officials.

From Slate • Apr. 21, 2026

Early Wednesday, the U.S. military evacuated some personnel from Al Udeid air base, in Qatar, home to U.S. aircraft and the major U.S. air war command center in the region.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 17, 2026

Mr Lynch says not only are civilians suffering, neither side is achieving military success in the air war.

From BBC • Dec. 8, 2025

As a result, those two countries launched an air war against the Helpers of God in the spring of 2015.

From Salon • Jul. 14, 2024

Most consisted of two squadrons of ten aircraft apiece; Marina Raskova’s three female regiments were not going to change the outcome of an air war on this scale.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

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