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Synonyms

airtight

American  
[air-tahyt] / ˈɛərˌtaɪt /

adjective

  1. preventing the entrance or escape of air or gas.

  2. having no weak points or openings of which an opponent may take advantage.

    an airtight contract.


airtight British  
/ ˈɛəˌtaɪt /

adjective

  1. not permitting the passage of air either in or out

  2. having no weak points; rigid or unassailable

    this categorization is hardly airtight

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of airtight

First recorded in 1750–60; air 1 + tight

Explanation

If something's airtight, it is completely sealed so that no air can get in or out of it. When you make homemade jam with the raspberries you picked, it's important to make sure the lids are airtight so the jam won't spoil. Many kinds of food and medicine you buy in a store are airtight. The airtight seal on a package, bag, or can assures you that the contents are safe from any germs that might get in and contaminate them. You can also use this adjective to mean "certain" or "indisputable," like an airtight alibi that can't be argued with, or an airtight plan that's guaranteed to work.

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Vocabulary lists containing airtight

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.

It’s also safe to eat for three to four days, provided the chicken is stored properly in shallow, airtight containers rather than in its original plastic packaging.

From Salon • Jun. 29, 2026

Fischer added that companies now have to implement trading policies that extend to prediction markets, though such policies often aren’t airtight.

From MarketWatch • May 28, 2026

His reasoning is pretty airtight: The Virginia Constitution says exactly when the “general election” was held for legal purposes, and it was Nov. 4, 2025.

From Slate • Apr. 24, 2026

He sees passive homes as going hand in hand with all-electric appliances, because “with airtight construction, having a gas stove in the house especially doesn’t make sense” for indoor air quality.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026

First, I replaced the flimsy door with a new airtight armor-plated vacuum-sealed WarDoor.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

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