general aviation

noun

: the operation of civilian aircraft not under the control of a common carrier

also : such aircraft collectively

Examples of general aviation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Overall airport operations — including commercial, general aviation and military flights — increased 5% year over year. —Alex Driggars, Austin American Statesman, 9 Mar. 2026

The independent agency investigates all fatal general aviation accidents, including commercial accidents and incidents, as well as significant accidents across the various modes of transportation and pipeline accidents. —Kiki Intarasuwan, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026

But the Airlines for American trade group, the military and the major general aviation groups that represent business jets and small plane owners backed a competing and more comprehensive House bill that was just introduced last week. —Josh Funk, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026

El Paso International Airport, which issued a notice late Tuesday, said all commercial, cargo and general aviation flights would be grounded until February 20. —Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for general aviation

• acclimatisation
• acclimatization
• acidification
• actualization
• annualization
• autocorrelation
• autoregulation
• beatification
• beneficiation
• biodegradation
• biotransformation
• bureaucratization