aviary

noun

avi·​ary ˈā-vē-ˌer-ē How to pronounce aviary (audio)
-ˌe-rē
plural aviaries
: a place for keeping birds confined

Examples of aviary in a Sentence

The zoo has a new outdoor aviary.
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.
Steve will then hopefully be able to join some of his fellow birds in one of the Hopefield Animal Sanctuary’s aviaries. — Adam England, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026 Numerous other birds can be viewed by guests throughout the aviary. — Finch Walker, USA Today, 3 July 2026 Players build aviaries featuring more than 150 species, and the artwork alone is a draw. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 June 2026 The $650,000 enhancement was two years in the making and replaced the center’s original aviary, built in 1979, which sustained damage from hurricanes in 2024. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for aviary

Word History

Etymology

Latin aviarium, from avis bird; akin to Greek aetos eagle

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aviary was in 1577

Rhymes for aviary

See All Rhymes for aviary

Browse Nearby Words

aviarist
aviary
aviate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Aviary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aviary. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

aviary

noun
avi·​ary ˈā-vē-ˌer-ē How to pronounce aviary (audio)
plural aviaries
: a place (as a large cage or a building) where many live birds are kept usually for exhibition
Etymology

from Latin aviarium "place to keep birds," from avis "bird"

More from Merriam-Webster on aviary

Nglish: Translation of aviary for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about aviary

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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