Air Force

American  

noun

1. the U.S. department consisting of practically all military aviation forces, established July 26, 1947.

2. air force, a similar department in any military organization.

3. air force, (formerly) the largest unit in the U.S. Army Air Forces.

4. air force, a unit of U.S. Air Force command between an air division and an air command.

5. Sometimes air force the military unit of a nation charged with carrying out military operations in the air.

6. British. Royal Air Force.

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air force British  

noun

1. 1. the branch of a nation's armed services primarily responsible for air warfare

   2. ( as modifier )

      an air-force base

2. a formation in the US and certain other air forces larger than an air division but smaller than an air command

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Etymology

Origin of Air Force

First recorded in 1915–1920

Example Sentences

Demand in China has been wobbly, and the company has been trying to sell off piles of unwanted casual sneakers, like Dunks and Air Force 1s.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

“If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand,” Vance told reporters before boarding Air Force Two.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

"We'll talk about any number of things related to the US-Hungary relationship," Vance told the press as he departed from Andrews Air Force Base outside of Washington.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

The idea, according to an Air Force recruitment video: “The survivor’s mission is to return, with honor.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

By the middle of 1942, the Air Transport Auxiliary in the United Kingdom let women ferry every single type of aircraft that the men of the Royal Air Force flew.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein