airbag

American  

[air-bag] / ˈɛərˌbæg /

Or air bag

noun

• airbags
  plural

1. a bag mounted in the interior of a motor vehicle, cushioning the seat occupant by inflating automatically in the event of collision.

2. a very large inflatable safety or cushioning device, as to protect a spacecraft during a landing.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• airbags
  plural

Etymology

Origin of airbag

First recorded in 1965–70; air ¹ ( def. ) + bag ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

airbag airbags

Brazel said the BMW was "extensively damaged" and that when the motorist "pulled back the deployed airbag he expected to find the driver dead", instead he found Dangerfield chatting on his phone.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

However, there may still be damage to the airbag sensors.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026

The airbag issue is a bit of a MacGuffin.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026

It’s the genre equivalent of an airbag that deploys already half-deflated.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 22, 2026

Dave had the airbag and made out okay.

From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin

By the turn of the century, such devices were ubiquitous, joining airbags and antilock breaks as standard safety features.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026

Fortunately, the airbags didn’t deploy, and as far as we can tell, that’s the extent of the visible damage.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026

Autoliv stock jumps after the maker of airbags and seatbelts backs its full-year guidance.

From Barron's ● Apr. 17, 2026

The authors add that bringing spacecraft and space stations safely back to Earth for reuse would require better recovery systems, including technologies such as parachutes and airbags.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 3, 2025

Its airbags had gone off too, and she couldn’t see inside.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz