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
Code Four, the air show’s operator, has partnered with the aviation company Maverick Helicopters to provide passenger service to and from Surf City for the first time in the event’s nine-year history.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025
The system, known as electrolysis, produces hydrogen (H2) and CO2 that can be stored and used as feedstocks for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and e-methanol for shipping.
—Nino Paoli, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
As the official private aviation sponsors of the programs, FlyHouse will offer bespoke air travel for ESPN and celebrity guest pickers during the 2025 NCAA and NFL football seasons.
—Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 19 Sep. 2025
In the past two years, there had been at least twenty-four serious accidents involving helicopters and nineteen fatalities, culminating with the collision over the Potomac, the deadliest incident in American commercial aviation since 2001.
—Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
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Claire Wang, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025
The system, known as electrolysis, produces hydrogen (H2) and CO2 that can be stored and used as feedstocks for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and e-methanol for shipping.
—Nino Paoli, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
As the official private aviation sponsors of the programs, FlyHouse will offer bespoke air travel for ESPN and celebrity guest pickers during the 2025 NCAA and NFL football seasons.
—Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 19 Sep. 2025
In the past two years, there had been at least twenty-four serious accidents involving helicopters and nineteen fatalities, culminating with the collision over the Potomac, the deadliest incident in American commercial aviation since 2001.
—Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 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 22 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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