aviator

noun

avi·​a·​tor ˈā-vē-ˌā-tər  ˈa- 

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

Synonyms

• airman
• birdman
• flier
• flyer
• pilot

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

Emily Shilling, one of the transgender soldiers who brought the case, is a naval aviator with 19 years of service and flew 60 combat missions before becoming a Navy test pilot. —Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2025

O’Hare was the first naval aviator recipient of the Medal of Honor. —Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2025

Lindo, at 6 feet 4 inches, enters the restaurant on an overcast Wednesday afternoon, sporting aviator shades, a thin, grey beanie, and a colorful summer scarf of different orange, pink, and yellow hues. —Nick Romano, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2025

More than 20,000 shoppers just bought the classic aviators, which come in 19 colors. —Isabel Garcia, People.com, 19 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing aviator

• aviator glasses
• aviator sunglasses

Rhymes for aviator

• activator
• actuator
• agitator
• alligator
• allocator
• alternator
• animator
• annotator
• applicator
• arbitrator
• aspirator
• calculator

Kids Definition

aviator

noun

avi·​a·​tor ˈā-vē-ˌāt-ər  ˈav-ē- 

: pilot entry 1 sense 3