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.
Skyrocketing jet-fuel prices are jolting the aviation industry, and airlines are bringing travelers along for the ride.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026
“It seems unlikely that industry rivals, consumer groups and antitrust authorities would simply go along with this,” said Stephen Trent, an independent aviation analyst.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026
“There’s a lot of amazing things going on in aviation and space, and a lot of it happening in California,” the executive said.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026
The union's top negotiator, Harry Jaeger, told AFP on Friday that the strike forced the aviation giant to cancel about 90 percent of flights by those two brands.
From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026
Lovelace was a respected physician who had focused his career on aviation medicine after training at the Mayo Clinic.
From "Women in Space" by Karen Bush Gibson
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.
