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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.

This, however, could also present the U.S. with a dilemma on whether to prolong the air war if the regime were to crack down again.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 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

The latest World War II drama from Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman on Apple TV+ focuses on the European air war and serves as a companion to “Band of Brothers” and “The Pacific.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 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