Plain English Meaning
The flight hours and types of flying a pilot must complete to qualify for a certificate or rating. The FAA spells out exactly how much and what kinds of flying count.
Full Definition
The total flight time, training, and operational activities a pilot has logged in accordance with the requirements set by the FAA for a particular certificate, rating, or privilege. It includes specific minimums of flight hours (such as solo, cross-country, night, and instrument time) and the kinds of training tasks that must be completed before a pilot is eligible to take a practical test or exercise certain privileges.