airlift

American  

[air-lift] / ˈɛərˌlɪft /

noun

1. a system for transporting persons or cargo by aircraft, especially in an emergency.

2. the persons or cargo so transported.

3. the act or process of transporting such a load.

4. a pump for raising liquids by the pressure of air forced into the pump chamber.

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verb (used with object)

1. to transport (persons or cargo) by airlift.

adjective

1. of or relating to an airlift or airlifts.

   to increase the army's airlift capacity.

airlift British  

/ ˈɛəˌlɪft /

noun

1. the transportation by air of passengers, troops, cargo, etc, esp when other routes are blocked

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verb

1. (tr) to transport by an airlift

Etymology

Origin of airlift

First recorded in 1940–45; air ¹ + lift

Explanation

When a military plane is used to deliver supplies or move people, it's called an airlift. After a major earthquake, airlifts can bring in clean water and food to people in the affected area. Whether they're removing citizens from dangerous situations or providing aid to victims of natural disasters, airlifts are useful in an emergency. Enormous military aircraft can hold a large quantity of supplies and deliver them quickly, even at great distances. As a verb, airlift means "fly to safety," so a government might airlift its embassy workers out of a country where war has suddenly broken out.

Example Sentences

We were running this airlift, like small propeller planes with eight seats, trying to get more than 100 people back to the mainland before twilight hits because they don’t have lighting on the runway.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

The United Nations is planning an airlift of some 2,000 relief kits to Jamaica from a supply station in Barbados once air travel is possible.

From Barron's • Oct. 29, 2025

NPS rangers and special agents from the Bureau of Land Management worked together to remove the massive amounts of plants and waste by hand and with slings attached to helicopters to airlift them out.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 21, 2025

As the soldiers prepared to airlift the suspect out of the mountainous area, they were surrounded by more than 100 people.

From BBC • Jun. 24, 2025

At Baxter State Park in Maine, the Journal reported, one hiker called up a National Guard Unit and asked them to send a helicopter to airlift him off Mount Katahdin because he was tired.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• airdrop
• fly