the branch of a nation's armed services primarily responsible for air warfare (as modifier): an air-force base
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
ˈAir ˌForce, n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- Military[proper noun] the U.S. department in charge of the nation's military air power.
- Military[countable* air force] the military unit of any nation that carries out air operations.
Air′ Force′,
- Militarythe U.S. department consisting of practically all military aviation forces, established July 26, 1947.
- Military(l.c.) a similar department in any military organization.
- Military(l.c.) (formerly) the largest unit in the U.S. Army Air Forces.
- Military(l.c.) a unit of U.S. Air Force command between an air division and an air command.
- Military(sometimes l.c.) the military unit of a nation charged with carrying out military operations in the air.
- Military[Brit.]Royal Air Force.
- 1915–1920
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'Air Force' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
5BX
- AF
- AFB
- AFC
- AFM
- Ab
- Air Command
- Air Force Cross
- Air Force One
- Air National Guard
- Air Police
- Airman's Medal
- Amn
- Andrews
- Apo
- Army Air Forces
- Articles of War
- Canaveral
- Chennault
- Chief of Staff
- Civil Air Patrol
- Colorado Springs
- Columbus Air Force Base
- Cranwell
- Davis
- Guam
- Marshal of the Royal Air Force
- Miller
- NAAFI
- RAAF
- RAF
- RAFVR
- RCAF
- RNZAF
- Royal Air Force
- Tedder
- Thule
- USAF
- WAAAF
- WAAF
- WRAAF
- WRAF
- air attaché
- air base
- air chief marshal
- air command
- air commodore
- air division
- air marshal
- air vice-marshal