'aviatrice' originates from French, specifically the word 'aviatrice', ultimately from Latin roots related to 'avis' (bird) and the agent-forming suffix, where the root meant 'bird' and the suffix denoted an agent (one who).

'aviatrice' developed from French 'aviateur'/'aviatrice' (19th century coinages related to early 'aviation' vocabulary) which in turn trace back to Latin elements such as 'avis' (bird) and agent-forming Latin suffixes; the English term 'aviator' was formed in a similar period and sometimes yields the feminine form in Romance languages as 'aviatrice'.

Initially built on a root meaning related to 'bird' (flight), the term evolved in modern usage to refer specifically to a person who flies aircraft, and 'aviatrice' specifically denotes a female pilot.