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

See Examples For:

antiaircraft

However, the rapid proliferation of advanced antiaircraft missiles by foreign adversaries has diminished the effectiveness of this strategy.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 24, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 26, 2026

Around 20 years ago, it ditched an antiaircraft gun called the Vulcan as it transitioned to missile-based defense.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 15, 2026

As an example, Qatar has 34 Patriot systems, according to IISS, but only has eight antiaircraft guns, which have been effective in shooting drones at short range in Ukraine.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 15, 2026

Suddenly the antiaircraft guns stopped firing—a sure sign that Luftwaffe planes were nearby.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein