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
In children, mucus can become trapped in the bronchioles—some of the tiniest airways in the lungs—and prevent the lungs from exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide, says James Campbell, vice chair of the committee on infectious diseases at the American Academy of Pediatrics.
—
Liz Szabo, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2025
Choking and Airway Obstruction Choking and airway obstruction are the most common serious risks of eating apple seeds.
—Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 18 Sep. 2025
Acute and Chronic Damage In the short term, this cascade means tighter and more restricted airways, more mucus, and overall reduced lung function.
—Bill Frist, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The inhaler's goal is to relax and open Mahiri's airway to prevent the discharge that affects the giraffe's breathing from building up.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for airway
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.
Liz Szabo, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2025
Choking and Airway Obstruction Choking and airway obstruction are the most common serious risks of eating apple seeds.
—Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 18 Sep. 2025
Acute and Chronic Damage In the short term, this cascade means tighter and more restricted airways, more mucus, and overall reduced lung function.
—Bill Frist, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The inhaler's goal is to relax and open Mahiri's airway to prevent the discharge that affects the giraffe's breathing from building up.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for airway
Cite this Entry
“Airway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airway. Accessed 26 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
airway
noun
air·way
-ˌwā 
: 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share