lighter-than-air

adjective

light·​er-than-air ˈlī-tər-thən-ˈer How to pronounce lighter-than-air (audio)
: of less weight than the air displaced

Examples of lighter-than-air in a Sentence

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.
That all being said, if the claims are true, the relatively cheap cost and ease of manufacture of lighter-than-air drones could dramatically increase the chances of detecting stealth aircraft in flight. Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2025 Flavors of coffee and caramel permeate this rich yet lighter-than-air double chocolate cream. Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 27 Dec. 2024 Flavors of coffee and caramel permeate this rich yet lighter-than-air double chocolate cream. Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 27 Dec. 2024 From 1921 to 1935, five lighter-than-air giants sailed the skies and then suffered catastrophic structural failures or were scrapped. Karen Scanlon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2024 There are several Latin American influences, too, such as the lighter-than-air Tres Leches cake and the tiger prawns yello anticucho. Michele Robson, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024 The lighter-than-air craft then edges toward the road and strikes the power line, causing several electrical sparks to fly. Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 22 Mar. 2024 Green infrastructure development: My focus will be on fostering business-friendly green infrastructure, including sustainable communities and eco-friendly transportation like lighter-than-air technologies, rail and e-bikes to minimize carbon emissions. The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Feb. 2024 But the future of this critical, lighter-than-air element is certainly in flux, Saha said, and the medical world is watching closely. Caroline Hopkins, NBC News, 25 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lighter-than-air was in 1901

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lighter-than-air.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lighter-than-air. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

lighter-than-air

adjective
: able to fly by the use of a gas (as helium or hot air) less dense than the air that would occupy the same amount of space

More from Merriam-Webster on lighter-than-air

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!