airtime

noun

air·​time ˈer-ˌtīm How to pronounce airtime (audio)
1
: the time or any part of the time when a radio or television station is on the air
2
: the time at which a radio or television broadcast is scheduled to begin

Examples of airtime in a Sentence

The committee plans to buy radio airtime for the campaign ads.
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.
The debate was chaotic in more than one moment, but Becerra managed to get more than his share of airtime and use it wisely. Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026 Community radio stations in some countries might also be unwilling to produce educational content due to costs or to broadcast material produced elsewhere without payment for airtime. Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Apr. 2026 The View had reportedly been under investigation for potentially violating the FCC's Equal Time Rule, a restriction that forced broadcasters to provide commensurate airtime to opposing candidates, if requested. Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026 The network has more than 1,000 affiliates nationwide, primarily offering its services in exchange for commercial airtime during the newscasts. Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for airtime

Word History

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of airtime was in 1924

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Airtime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airtime. Accessed 5 May. 2026.

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