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.
Upon arrival, visitors can pay a visit to the butterfly house in search of colorful insects or hang out with the resident tortoises—but no trip to La Marquesa is complete without exploring the on-property aviary. Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025 Photo : Become Legendary A small rock garden, once used as an aviary, is tucked into the far corner of the sprawling room. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 21 May 2025 The attraction features more than 20,000 butterflies and hundreds of birds in the aviaries. Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 13 May 2025 The transformed Hidden Jungle aviary bursts with hundreds of butterflies each spring, attracting butterfly enthusiasts from across the region. Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 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 10 Jun. 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

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