antiaircraft

American  

[an-tee-air-kraft, -krahft, an-tahy-] / ˌæn tiˈɛərˌkræft, -ˌkrɑft, ˌæn taɪ- /

adjective

1. designed for or used in defense against enemy aircraft.

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noun

1. artillery used against enemy aircraft.

2. a military organization operating and servicing antiaircraft artillery.

3. shellfire from antiaircraft artillery.

   The planes flew through heavy antiaircraft.

Etymology

Origin of antiaircraft

First recorded in 1910–15; anti- + aircraft

Explanation

Anything described as antiaircraft defends a position on the ground from an air force. An antiaircraft gun shoots at attacking planes. This is a military term with a very specific meaning. Like all anti words, this is in opposition to something: in this case, fighter planes and other attacks from above. All antiaircraft devices and strategies involve protecting forces on the ground from forces in the sky. Since planes have tremendous advantages in dropping bombs and firing at the ground, antiaircraft forces are important.

Example Sentences

After flying through heavy antiaircraft fire the crew experienced turbulence and loss of fuel.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Jittery Angelenos sat in the dark, rattled by sounds of sirens and antiaircraft fire.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

But antiaircraft batteries have limited range and missiles are expensive.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 18, 2025

The two Iranian officials said the weapon had struck an S-300 antiaircraft system at a military base in the nearby province of Isfahan.

From New York Times • Apr. 20, 2024

Here, there was a strongly fortified line of German troops, airfields, tanks, searchlights, headquarters, and machine gun and antiaircraft batteries.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein