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
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
Michael RothschildExamples of aviation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The business model is simple: passengers can book a call with a U.S.-based commercial pilot, active or retired, to discuss a recent flight, safety concerns or even aviation news.
—Adaira Landry, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
According to reports in the Ukrainian press, the A.I. had been trained to recognize targets using images of old Soviet warplanes on display in an aviation museum east of Kyiv.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
On May 12, 2020, a plane crashed into Miramar Commons shopping center, killing an aviation student and injuring a flight instructor.
—Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 14 July 2025
Fifteen years ago this month, my father died in a commercial aviation accident, a moment that split my life into a before and an after.
—Belal Aftab, Mercury News, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for aviation
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Adaira Landry, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
According to reports in the Ukrainian press, the A.I. had been trained to recognize targets using images of old Soviet warplanes on display in an aviation museum east of Kyiv.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
On May 12, 2020, a plane crashed into Miramar Commons shopping center, killing an aviation student and injuring a flight instructor.
—Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 14 July 2025
Fifteen years ago this month, my father died in a commercial aviation accident, a moment that split my life into a before and an after.
—Belal Aftab, Mercury News, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for aviation
Cite this Entry
“Aviation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aviation. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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aviation
noun
avi·a·tion
ˌā-vē-ˈā-shən
ˌav-ē-
: the operation of aircraft (as airplanes or helicopters) that are heavier than air
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