airport

¹ American  

[air-pawrt, -pohrt] / ˈɛərˌpɔrt, -ˌpoʊrt /

noun

1. a tract of land or water with facilities for the landing, takeoff, shelter, supply, and repair of aircraft, especially one used for receiving or discharging passengers and cargo at regularly scheduled times.

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airport ² American  

[air-pawrt, -pohrt] / ˈɛərˌpɔrt, -ˌpoʊrt /

noun

Nautical.

1. a porthole designed to be opened to the outside air.

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airport British  

/ ˈɛəˌpɔːt /

noun

1. a landing and taking-off area for civil aircraft, usually with surfaced runways and aircraft maintenance and passenger facilities

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Etymology

Origin of airport¹

1915–20; air ¹ + port ¹, on the model of seaport

Origin of airport²

First recorded in 1780–90; air ¹ + port ⁴

Example Sentences

It’s the latest concept from a husband-and-wife team on a mission to amp up airport downtime.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

The Ukrainian leader, who usually makes foreign trips from the Polish airport of Rzeszów chose this week to fly to the UK via Moldova.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

Kim later hosted Xi and their wives for a luncheon before accompanying the Chinese leader to the airport for his departure.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

Maybe it’s the airport gate before a long-planned vacation.

From Salon • Jun. 9, 2026

Met at the Moscow airport by Lev Abramov, the head of the chess section of the USSR, and by a guide from Intourist, Joan and Bobby were ushered to Moscow’s finest hotel, the National.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Related Words

• airfield
• airstrip
• installation
• runway