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
Food waste also accounts for up to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions each year, estimates the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change—four times more than the entire aviation industry.
—Jen Rose Smith, AFAR Media, 27 May 2025
Forbes spoke to four aviation safety experts who offered advice for minimizing risk exposure and reducing the likelihood of flight disruptions this summer.
—Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
In theory, these armchair diagnoses were an oblique means for Fielder to gain an audience with Rep. Steve Cohen, a Democratic congressman from Tennessee who’s both a member of the House’s aviation subcommittee and an advocate for the neurodivergent.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 26 May 2025
In addition to the pending closures at Valero and Phillips 66, two other petroleum refineries in California have switched to producing renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuels since 2019.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2025
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Jen Rose Smith, AFAR Media, 27 May 2025
Forbes spoke to four aviation safety experts who offered advice for minimizing risk exposure and reducing the likelihood of flight disruptions this summer.
—Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
In theory, these armchair diagnoses were an oblique means for Fielder to gain an audience with Rep. Steve Cohen, a Democratic congressman from Tennessee who’s both a member of the House’s aviation subcommittee and an advocate for the neurodivergent.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 26 May 2025
In addition to the pending closures at Valero and Phillips 66, two other petroleum refineries in California have switched to producing renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuels since 2019.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 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 5 Jun. 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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