airwaves

American

[air-wayvz] / ˈɛərˌweɪvz /

plural noun

the media of radio and television broadcasting.

The airwaves were filled with news flashes about the crisis.

airwaves British

/ ˈɛəˌweɪvz /

plural noun

informal radio waves used in radio and television broadcasting

"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

Etymology

Origin of airwaves

1895–1900, for earlier sense; air ¹ + waves (plural of wave )

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.

See Examples For:

airwaves

The purchase gave Musk’s company a platform for beaming data to cellphones from space using its own reserved frequencies rather than through airwaves licensed from partner T-Mobile.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

Since “Lazy Sunday” from “Saturday Night Live” hit the airwaves and caught a second wind on YouTube, the comedy landscape “had changed forever,” according to Seth Meyers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

This time last year – also a warm spring and hot summer – the media airwaves were filled with “plagues of wasps” stories.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 11, 2026

Graham benefited from not just Trump’s endorsement but a significant funding advantage over Norman, as well as from outside groups flooding the airwaves on her behalf.

From Slate ● Aug. 26, 2026

At half past the hour, a familiar voice came over the airwaves.

From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023