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.
If Ludwig angina is left untreated, swelling can block breathing airways, which can be fatal. — Francisco J. Rivera Rosario, Health, 11 Mar. 2025 Medications targeting inflammation are frequently recommended for allergic asthma because inflammation narrows the airways in this condition.1 Common prescription anti-inflammatory therapies include steroids and leukotriene antagonists. — Daniel More, Verywell Health, 10 Mar. 2025 The therapy is believed to improve respiratory health by clearing airways and promoting healing of skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis. — Mari Pressley, Charlotte Observer, 3 Mar. 2025 Bronchospasms occur when the muscles that line the airway tighten, limiting the amount of oxygen the body receives. — Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025 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

airway
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Cite this Entry

“Airway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airway. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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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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