aviator

noun

avi·​a·​tor ˈā-vē-ˌā-tər How to pronounce aviator (audio) ˈa- How to pronounce aviator (audio)
plural aviators
1
: the operator or pilot of an aircraft and especially an airplane
2
aviators plural : aviator glasses
The heat had begun to settle in, and as she hit the sidewalk, she slipped on her new sunglasses, a trendy pair of aviators.Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Examples of aviator in a Sentence

the solo flight from New York to Paris by the aviator Charles Lindbergh captured the imagination of people around the world
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Earhart’s mysterious disappearance Conspiracy theories have developed since the aviator’s disappearance, but the US government suspects that Earhart and her navigator crashed into the Pacific when the plane ran out of fuel. Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 21 Nov. 2024 At the center of it all is Tom Cruise returning to one of his most iconic roles as the titular renegade aviator, the years not diluting his spirit so much as making his brashness far more interesting. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 19 Nov. 2024 Susan Runyan Berkeley Congress’s effort helping aviators go green The push for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a perfect example of how smart investments in clean energy can create substantial benefits across multiple industries. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024 The aviator addressed a crowd topping 10,000, while outside the venue, thousands of supporters and protesters lined the streets. Barbara Spindel, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for aviator 

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of aviator was in 1868

Dictionary Entries Near aviator

Cite this Entry

“Aviator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aviator. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

aviator

noun
avi·​a·​tor ˈā-vē-ˌāt-ər How to pronounce aviator (audio) ˈav-ē- How to pronounce aviator (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on aviator

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!