the U.S. department consisting of practically all military aviation forces, established July 26, 1947.
air force, a similar department in any military organization.
air force, (formerly) the largest unit in the U.S. Army Air Forces.
air force, a unit of U.S. Air Force command between an air division and an air command.
Sometimes air force the military unit of a nation charged with carrying out military operations in the air.
British. Royal Air Force.
the branch of a nation's armed services primarily responsible for air warfare
( as modifier )
an air-force base
a formation in the US and certain other air forces larger than an air division but smaller than an air command
First recorded in 1915–1920
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Perhaps in part because of his time overseas in the Air Force, he believed U.S. military, economic and diplomatic power could be marshaled to expand freedom in the world in the American national interest.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
The contract aimed for initial delivery of an Air Force One aircraft by the end of 2024.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
He said the company is “also adding significant resources” to help the Air Force One program stay on schedule.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
The latest Air Force One expenses are for "additional production and certification resources," Boeing said in its earnings press release.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
As Jerrie and her boss, Tom Harris, talked before that day's events at the Air Force Association conference, two men who had just had a swim in the ocean were headed in their direction.
From "Women in Space" by Karen Bush Gibson
Ukrainian air force spokesman Yuri Ihnat told Ukrainian TV the attack involved three ballistic missiles, only one of which was intercepted.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
AFP journalists in Kyiv heard explosions moments after the Ukrainian air force warned residents via Telegram of incoming ballistic missiles.
From Barron's ● Jul. 19, 2026
A specialist air force team was expected to travel to the Ionian island to remove the aircraft from the runway and allow airport operations to resume.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
France also dispatched its air force acrobatics team to the United States this month to mark the 250th anniversary.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
He joined the air force soon after he graduated from high school, and he and my grandma first met when he was stationed at a military base in San Antonio.
From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
