'aviation' originates from French, specifically the word 'aviation', where Latin 'avis' meant 'bird' and the suffix '-ation' formed a noun.

'aviation' was coined in French in the mid-19th century (often attributed to Gabriel La Landelle in 1863) and was borrowed into English in the late 19th century as 'aviation'.

Initially, it meant 'the action or practice of flying', and over time it has come to mean more broadly 'the science, practice, or industry of air travel and aircraft'.