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airman

airman

28 3.5
A person who flies or helps fly planes in the air force
  • noun
  • /ˈɛrˌmæn/
translation icon : aviador
  • Hackett has claimed that a bad person cannot be a good soldier, sailor, or airman.

So my class would be Army, Navy, Marines, Airmen, intelligence officials and and others.

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Examples

  • It's a military ID number belonging to an airman by the name of Arthur Sands.

  • My uncle was a Tuskegee Airman, and a small book was written about him.

    Blog text (23)
  • Said it was the highest honor an airman could achieve.

  • I wanted to wait until the airman left to talk with you.

  • My father was an airman...

  • You stay where you are, airman.

  • Colonel Wilkins, this is Airman Kelly, sir!

  • I understand this because I was married to an airman during Desert Shield/Storm.

    Blog text (3)
  • A Tuskegee airman killed in action in 1944.

  • The airman confidently piloted the aircraft through the stormy skies.

Synonyms

pilot
vsairman
2.9

A person who flies a plane or guides a ship safely

adds military service and nonflying crew roles to that control function
crewman
vsairman
47 3.2

A person who works with others on a ship, aircraft, or vehicle

focuses specifically on service in the air force or aircraft roles
aviator
vsairman
37 4.6

A person who flies a plane or other aircraft

includes military membership or assisting roles beyond direct flying
flier
vsairman
  • US
19 4.2

A person who flies an aircraft as its pilot

emphasizes military membership or broader crew duties rather than casual reference
flyboy
vsairman
  • Archaic
9 7.5

A young man who flies planes, often in the military and does daring stunts

is the more neutral, general term including routine military and crew roles
airplane pilot
vsairman
  • US
1 3.2

A person who flies a plane and has a licence

covers that role but also includes military service and assisting tasks
aircrew member
vsairman
3.4

A person who works on a plane during a flight

can mean an individual specifically in the military or a pilot
aircrewman
vsairman
5.8

A man who works on a plane as part of the flight crew

is similar but can be any member of the air force, not only crew
airwoman
vsairman
6.0

A woman who works as a crew member on an airplane, often in the military

is the male-typical term that covers both pilots and assisting crew roles
aircrewwoman
vsairman
7.0

A woman who is part of the crew on a plane or helicopter

is the traditionally male term often used for military or piloting roles

How Senior

commissioned officer
  • Specialized
3 3.6
senior master sergeant
  • Specialized
6.7
noncommissioned officer
  • Specialized
2 6.2
airman
28 3.5
recruit
149 3.6

Surface Forms

airman singular
airmen plural

Morphology

airman = air + man (transparent) = air + man

A direct combination of 'air' + 'man' denoting a person associated with aircraft; the meaning is straightforward for learners.

Etymology

The word airman is simply air + man, so it means a 'person' who works or flies in the 'air' or 'sky'. That's why it refers to a pilot or a member of the air force.