air miss: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “air miss” mean?
A dangerous situation where two aircraft come extremely close to colliding in flight, but do not actually collide.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A dangerous situation where two aircraft come extremely close to colliding in flight, but do not actually collide.
An incident investigated by aviation authorities where prescribed separation minima between aircraft were compromised. It can also be used metaphorically in other contexts to describe a very narrow avoidance of disaster.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is standard in UK aviation (Civil Aviation Authority). In the US, the equivalent official term is 'near midair collision' (NMAC), though 'air miss' may be understood in technical/journalistic contexts.
Connotations
In the UK, it carries official, investigative connotations. In the US, 'near miss' is a more common general phrase, while 'air miss' sounds specifically British or technical.
Frequency
High frequency in UK aviation reporting; low frequency in general American English, where 'near miss' or 'near collision' is preferred.
Grammar
How to Use “air miss” in a Sentence
An air miss occurred between [Aircraft A] and [Aircraft B].The authorities are investigating the air miss.The pilot reported an air miss to air traffic control.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “air miss” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The air-miss report was filed within 24 hours.
American English
- The near-midair-collision report was filed within 24 hours.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used in aviation insurance or airline risk management reports.
Academic
Used in papers on aviation safety, human factors, and transport engineering.
Everyday
Very rare. Would only be used by pilots, aviation enthusiasts, or in news reports about aviation incidents.
Technical
Standard term in aviation regulations, incident reporting, and air traffic control investigations.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “air miss”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “air miss”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “air miss”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'The planes air missed').
- Confusing it with the more general 'near miss', which can apply to any context.
- Spelling as one word: 'airmiss'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In aviation contexts, they are very similar, but 'air miss' is the formal UK term with specific reporting criteria. 'Near miss' is a broader term used in many fields.
No, it is exclusively a noun. You cannot say 'the planes air missed'. Instead, use 'the planes were involved in an air miss' or 'the planes nearly collided'.
In general American English, use 'near miss' or 'near collision'. In official US aviation contexts, the term is 'near midair collision' (NMAC).
It is treated as a very serious safety incident. All air misses are formally investigated to determine the cause and prevent future occurrences.
A dangerous situation where two aircraft come extremely close to colliding in flight, but do not actually collide.
Air miss is usually formal, technical, journalistic in register.
Air miss: in British English it is pronounced /ˈeə mɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɛr mɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'AIR' planes that 'MISS' each other by a tiny margin. It's an official report for a miss in the air.
Conceptual Metaphor
AVIATION SAFETY IS PRECISION; A DEVIATION IS A THREAT.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'air miss'?