Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Spoken, occurring, or used during broadcasting.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Broadcast (as opposed to recorded).
  • adverb Actually broadcasting on a radio or television station (as opposed to just recording for later transmission).

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Derived from early use of radio, literally sending the transmission on the air waves

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Examples

  • "The speed of China's development at the moment is like a high-speed train—it's the envy of the whole world—but while satisfying our need for speed, we might be forsaking many things," said Qiu Qiming, a popular anchor on the state broadcaster's CCTV 13 channel, in an extraordinary on-air plea after the accident.

    Trouble on the China Express Jason Dean 2011

  • CNN's problem with Miles wasn't Miles but his audience for his reporting and careful technical descriptions of on-air space events.

    Life After CNN - NASA Watch 2009

  • "George Soros and the Open Society Institute gave us $1.8 million, and they have decided not to use on-air credits because of what's happening in Congress with attacks on NPR," Ms. Lilley said.

    National Soros Radio John Fund 2011

  • Getty Images Darrelle Revis, left, of the New York Jets Revis, at the insistence of a Jets public-relations staffer, hung up on Francesca during an on-air phone interview after Francesca continued to press the player on whether he'd gotten away with a push on Miami receiver Brandon Marshall.

    Francesa Gets Booted From Revis Island 2011

  • Key TMS moments during 1981's big Headingley turnaround included a lengthy and entirely straight discussion of the correct way to address a bishop in written correspondence "The Most Reverend", a saliva-drenched interlude of almost silent on-air cake-munching and a bit where Fred Trueman's musings on Graham Dilley are accompanied by a loud and persistent "ching! ching!" noise, which proves to be Trueman lighting his pipe.

    My Beef with England: if only we had an Ian Botham now | Barney Ronay 2011

  • Ms. Lilley explained to an associate of Mr. O'Keefe's, who was masquerading as a potential donor from a Muslim group, that Mr. Soros had decided he didn't want on-air publicity about his grant.

    National Soros Radio John Fund 2011

  • What was it that Keys said during his on-air apology?

    Rewind radio: The Archers; Victoria Derbyshire; Keys and Gray; It's Your Round – review 2011

  • With a resonant voice and warmly earnest delivery, Mr. Davis was an on-air presence at WGMS for more than 50 years until the station went defunct in 2007.

    Bob Davis, former WGMS host, has died 2011

  • The Daily Show put an ingenious reel together of CNN's Don Lemon expressing bewilderment at various on-air quirks and soft-news segments stuff like how much it would cost to enroll in the fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry or a guy who dresses as a devil to illustrate just how hot it is outside.

    VIDEO: CNN's Don Lemon Rolls Eyes at CNN 2011

  • People at the time were well aware how much the finished "Kane" owed to its director's broadcast work, says writer-producer-director Norman Corwin, an on-air colleague of Welles's in that golden age of the 1930s and '40s.

    Rosebud and the Radio Tom Nolan 2011

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