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.
The ibises’ first flight outside the aviary was chaos. Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025 In addition, the zoo temporarily shuttered the farmyard and outdoor aviary and limited bird access to care providers and other professionals, canceling events that would have involved birds. Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2025 The zoo has closed its farmyard and outdoor aviary after a deceased Cotton Patch goose was found to have bird flu. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 30 Jan. 2025 Helena got out and began herding the birds back into the aviary. Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Aviary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aviary. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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