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.

---

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

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

Soon after, twitchy soldiers defending Los Angeles unleashed a barrage of antiaircraft fire at what was later suspected to be a stray weather balloon.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Earlier in the war, Wagner mercenaries supplied the R.S.F. with antiaircraft missiles, U.N. investigators say.

From New York Times • Jun. 5, 2024

At the station, in the freezing darkness lit only by antiaircraft searchlights looking for Luftwaffe planes to shoot down, one young woman was on patrol.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein