aviation
Americannoun
-
the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft.
-
military aircraft.
noun
-
-
the art or science of flying aircraft
-
the design, production, and maintenance of aircraft
-
-
military aircraft collectively
Other Word Forms
- aviatic adjective
Etymology
Origin of aviation
Explanation
If it has to do with flying or operating a plane, it has to do with aviation. If someone tells you that he's in aviation school, that means he is learning how to fly a plane. Aviation comes from the Latin avis meaning "bird," an appropriate translation given that aviation deals with travel by air, specifically in a plane. The aviation industry is the business sector dedicated to manufacturing and operating all types of aircraft. Air traffic controllers, when they are awake, are concerned with aviation safety.
Vocabulary lists containing aviation
Flying High: Aviation Words
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Cay
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
November Words
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Civil aviation authority chief Aziz said that "only on two or three occasions maximum" a commercial plane delayed a landing due to Israeli military action.
From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026
"The airport has stayed open throughout this crisis" following risk assessments based on information received "mainly from the US embassy", said Mohammed Aziz, head of Lebanon's civil aviation authority.
From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026
“It is highly unlikely that trade into the Gulf will simply resume,” said Neil Roberts, head of marine and aviation at Lloyd’s Market Association, which represents Lloyd’s underwriters of ships’ insurance.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026
India's aviation market is poised for significant expansion but remains constrained by a limited number of widebody aircraft, Willie Walsh, the incoming chief executive of IndiGo, told the BBC.
From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026
But at the same time, the creation of the air regiments meant that the mostly educated young women who volunteered their aviation skills would feel their voices had been heard, even if they weren’t accepted.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
