midair

noun

mid·​air ˈmid-ˈer How to pronounce midair (audio)
: a point or region in the air not immediately adjacent to the ground
the planes collided in midair

Examples of midair in a Sentence

The two planes collided in midair. We watched birds catching insects in midair.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Ranking Member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., confirmed the Black Hawk helicopter came from the same Army Aviation brigade as the helicopter involved in the deadly Jan. 29 midair collision over the Potomac River. Alexandra Koch , Chad Pergram , Grady Trimble, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2025 Helicopters near the airport have been under intense scrutiny since the January 29 midair collision of American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army helicopter from the same unit. Pete Muntean, CNN Money, 2 May 2025 That comes on the heels of several high-profile aviation incidents in the United States — including a midair collision between an American Airlines jetliner and a military helicopter — as well as lingering quality control issues at Boeing. Bella Stoddart,monica Pitrelli, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025 But the Langley crash follows a year already marked by several high-profile incidents, including a deadly midair collision near Washington, D.C., in January. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for midair

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of midair was in 1605

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Cite this Entry

“Midair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/midair. Accessed 20 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

midair

noun
mid·​air ˈmid-ˈa(ə)r How to pronounce midair (audio)
-ˈe(ə)r
: a point or region in the air not very close to the ground
planes collided in midair

More from Merriam-Webster on midair

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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