midair

[mid-air]

noun

1. any point in the air not contiguous with the earth or other solid surface.

   to catch a ball in midair.

midair

/ ˌmɪdˈɛə /

noun

1. 1. some point above ground level, in the air

   2. ( as modifier )

      a midair collision of aircraft

Word History and Origins

Origin of midair¹

First recorded in 1660–70; mid- + air ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see under leave hanging.

Example Sentences

Upon learning of the midair explosion, the Marines canceled the firing of 55 more rounds.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A Marine spokesperson said one volley of five shells was fired during the demonstration — four shells hit their target and one exploded midair.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The airport, which operates the single busiest runway in the U.S., was the site of a January midair collision between an American Airlines flight and an Army Black Hawk helicopter that killed 67 people.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A United Airlines flight bound for Greenland turned around in midair to avoid stranding even more people.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Regulators, blaming Boeing’s emphasis on production over quality, imposed the production limit after a fuselage panel blew off an Alaska Airlines jet midair in early 2024.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal