airship

noun

air·​ship ˈer-ˌship How to pronounce airship (audio)
: a lighter-than-air aircraft having propulsion and steering systems

Examples of airship in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The airships could also have military capabilities. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 6 Feb. 2024 Moffett Field was established as a West Coast base for the nation’s rigid airship program, and Hangar One’s celebrated tenant, the Macon, arrived in 1933. Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2024 Because of the remote location, the sheriff's department requested assistance from the California Highway Patrol, who lent an airship to their search for the scene. Louis Casiano, Fox News, 29 Jan. 2024 Its unique curves and contours evoke the cylindrical airships of the early 20th century. Anna Tingley, Variety, 4 Dec. 2023 After several flights in California, the airship will head back to the company’s hangar in Akron, Ohio. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 27 Oct. 2023 Here's a Brotherhood of Steel airship; one of these was particularly prominent in 2015's Fallout 4. Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, 5 Dec. 2023 Beijing claimed that the balloon was an airship with meteorological gear that blew off course. Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 14 Nov. 2023 Several Chinese makers of airships and their components that were blacklisted by the U.S. government last Friday over China’s balloon program have ties to this effort, corporate records and other Chinese documents show. Chris Buckley, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'airship.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of airship was in 1826

Dictionary Entries Near airship

Cite this Entry

“Airship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airship. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

airship

noun
air·​ship ˈa(ə)r-ˌship How to pronounce airship (audio)
ˈe(ə)r-
: a lighter-than-air aircraft with its own power and steering

More from Merriam-Webster on airship

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!