English Reference

Word

airbag

US/ˈɛɹˌbæɡ/

UK/ˈeəbæɡ/

Countable noun

Definition

n. a bag that fills with air to protect you if you crash. It is usually in a car and opens very quickly when a seatbelt is pulled.

n. a bag of flexible fabric that inflates rapidly with gas to protect a vehicle occupant from injury during a collision. Typically deployed by a sensor that detects a sudden deceleration.

Examples

“The car's airbag saved the driver's life.”

“Modern vehicles are equipped with multiple airbags to provide protection for both the front and side seats.”

“While seatbelts provide the primary restraint, airbags serve as a secondary safety measure by reducing the force of impact against the vehicle's interior surfaces.”

Examples

simple

“The car's airbag saved the driver's life.”

contextual

“Modern vehicles are equipped with multiple airbags to provide protection for both the front and side seats.”

complex

“While seatbelts provide the primary restraint, airbags serve as a secondary safety measure by reducing the force of impact against the vehicle's interior surfaces.”

Etymology

From air + bag.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Frequency
Occasional
Level
B1 · Intermediate
Updated

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English Reference