airworthy

American

[air-wur-thee] / ˈɛərˌwɜr ði /

adjective

airworthier, airworthiest

(of an aircraft) meeting established standards for safe flight; equipped and maintained in condition to fly.

airworthy British

/ ˈɛəˌwɜːðɪ /

adjective

(of an aircraft) safe to fly

"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 airworthy

First recorded in 1820–30; air ¹ + -worthy

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:

airworthy

A representative designated by the Federal Aviation Administration has to give the OK that the plane is airworthy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 11, 2026

But on Monday, an airport official told the BBC that "the aircraft is confirmed to be airworthy".

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2025

The company is also accused of falsifying Federal Aviation Administration release certificates, used to show that an aircraft is airworthy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 2025

Several travelers are suing Boeing for failing to ensure that the airplane was airworthy.

From Slate ● Feb. 6, 2024

The motor-car provides an enjoyable means of travelling from place to place; but in the aeroplane, once it is airworthy, reliable, and comfortable, the tourist has a vehicle which is distinctly more pleasurable and exhilarating.

From Learning to Fly A Practical Manual for Beginners by Claude Grahame-White

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