aviation

noun

avi·​a·​tion ˌā-vē-ˈā-shən 

ˌa-

often attributive

1

: the operation of aircraft

a pioneer in the early days of aviation

a career in aviation

sometimes, specifically : the operation of heavier-than-air aircraft

Fascinated from that moment on by aviation, [John] Montgomery pursued pioneering experiments in the design of a heavier-than-air glider …

—Kevin Starr

2

: military airplanes

carrier-based aviation

3

: airplane manufacture, development, and design

By that time, [Theodore P.] Wright already had established himself as a leading figure in American aviation.

—Michael Rothschild

Examples of aviation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The National Business Aviation Association and other aviation groups argue tax breaks help support jobs while spending millions lobbying to preserve their favorable treatment. — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

Assign people to industries completely unrelated to yours, whether that’s healthcare, aviation, hospitality, agriculture or sports. — Duncan Wardle, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026

In a statement, BSO spokesperson Veda Coleman-Wright said district deputies, K-9 and aviation units responded Tuesday to a report of an armed robbery in progress. — Abby Dodge, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026

The school, which opened in 1991, offers several certifications, including private pilots’ licenses and a diploma in aviation, and is popular with international students. — Sheikh Saaliq, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, from Latin avis

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing aviation

• general aviation

Rhymes for aviation

• ablation
• aeration
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation

Kids Definition

aviation

noun

avi·​a·​tion ˌā-vē-ˈā-shən 

ˌav-ē-

: the operation of aircraft (as airplanes or helicopters) that are heavier than air