airway

noun

air·​way ˈer-ˌwā How to pronounce airway (audio)
Synonyms of airwaynext
1
: a passage for a current of air (as in a mine or to the lungs)
2
: a designated route along which airplanes fly from airport to airport
especially : such a route equipped with navigational aids
3
: airline
4
: a channel of a designated radio frequency for broadcasting or other radio communication

Examples of airway in a Sentence

a patient with a partially blocked airway
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.
Both receptors are common on human airway cells High levels of stimulation are detrimental, the researchers wrote, whereas moderate levels indicating small amounts of time spent in cowsheds seemed to be beneficial. — Baltimore Sun, Boston Herald, 9 Aug. 2026 Potential causes include drowning, strangulation, asthma and foreign objects blocking an airway. — Adam England, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026 How sleep apnea works In healthy sleep, the airway stays open. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2026 The most common form, obstructive sleep apnea, happens when muscles in the back of the throat relax and block the airway. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for airway

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of airway was in 1800

Phrases Containing airway

Rhymes for airway

See All Rhymes for airway

Browse Nearby Words

airwaves
airway
airway beacon
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Airway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airway. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

airway

noun
air·​way -ˌwā How to pronounce airway (audio)
1
: a passage for a current of air
especially : one through which air passes to and from the lungs
2
: a regular route for aircraft
especially : one equipped with aids for guiding aircraft
3
: airline

Medical Definition

airway

noun
air·​way -ˌwā How to pronounce airway (audio)
: a passageway for air into or out of the lungs
specifically : a device passed into the trachea by way of the mouth or nose or through an incision to maintain a clear respiratory passageway (as during anesthesia, convulsions, or in obstructive laryngitis) see upper airway

More from Merriam-Webster on airway

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for airway

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about airway

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