English Reference
noun

aviation

n.
US /ˌeɪviˈeɪʃən/ UK /ˌeɪvɪˈeɪʃən/ avi·a·tion UK spelling aviations

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the activity of flying or operating planes and other aircraft.

    the act of flying or operating aircraft, including the practical skills and procedures involved in flight.

    Simple

    He decided to pursue a career in aviation because he loved flying.

    In context

    Modern aviation relies heavily on automated systems to assist pilots during the most demanding phases of a long-haul flight.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the business of designing, building, and selling aircraft.

    the industrial sector concerned with the design, manufacture, and commercial sale of aircraft.

    Simple

    The city's economy depends on the local aviation industry for jobs.

    In context

    The global aviation sector faced significant challenges as fuel prices fluctuated and environmental regulations became more stringent.

    aerospace industry
  3. 03 C1 Advanced Technical Science

    the study or science of how to build and fly aircraft.

    the science or art of aeronautics and the technical development of flying machines.

    Simple

    She studied aviation to understand how wings create lift.

    In context

    Advancements in aviation have been driven by a deeper understanding of fluid dynamics and the development of lightweight composite materials.

  4. 04 C2 Proficiency Technical Cooking

    a classic purple cocktail made with gin, lemon juice, and cherry and violet liqueurs.

    a classic cocktail composed of gin, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette, and lemon juice, known for its distinct pale-blue or violet hue.

    Simple

    The bartender prepared an Aviation, garnishing it with a single cherry.

    In context

    The Aviation fell out of favour for decades due to the scarcity of crème de violette, but it has seen a resurgence in modern craft cocktail bars.

Aviation Minister Keir Mather said the project would test "small tweaks to flight paths over the Atlantic" which could help make flying cleaner.

BBC News· 18 Aug 2026

Photograph: AP Some aviation experts questioned whether the margin for error was too small.

The Guardian· 31 Aug 2026

Borrowed from French aviation, derived from Latin avis (“bird”). By surface analysis, avi- + -ation.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin avis
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated