Definition
The agency of the United States government, within the Department of Transportation, responsible for regulating and overseeing all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S. This includes pilot certification, aircraft airworthiness, air traffic control, airspace management, airport standards, and the publication of regulations and guidance material such as the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) and the handbooks pilots study during training.
Plain English
The FAA is the U.S. government body that makes and enforces the rules for flying. It issues pilot licenses, certifies aircraft as safe to fly, runs air traffic control, and publishes the rules and study material pilots learn from.
Context Anchor
Pilots see this name on FAA handbooks, regulations, certificates, safety guidance, airport procedures, and training materials.
Derivation
Federal means relating to the central U.S. government (as opposed to individual state governments). Aviation comes from the Latin avis, meaning bird, and refers to flying. Administration means a body that administers -- carries out and enforces -- a set of duties. So the name describes a central government body that runs civil aviation in the United States.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots must follow FAA regulations for training, certification, and operations to fly legally and safely.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as just any government office. Here, Federal Aviation Administration means the specific U.S. agency with authority over civil aviation safety and rules.
Example Sentence 1
After passing the checkride, the examiner submitted the paperwork and the FAA issued the new private pilot certificate.
Example Sentence 2
Before solo flight, every student must meet the medical standards published by the Federal Aviation Administration.