foray

American  

[fawr-ey, for-ey] / ˈfɔr eɪ, ˈfɒr eɪ /

noun

1. a quick raid, usually for the purpose of taking plunder.

   Vikings made a foray on the port.

   Synonyms:

   sortie, incursion, invasion, assault, attack

2. a quick, sudden attack.

   The defenders made a foray outside the walls.

3. an initial venture.

   a successful foray into politics.

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verb (used without object)

1. to make a raid; pillage; maraud.

2. to invade or make one's way, as for profit or adventure.

   foreign industries foraying into U.S. markets.

verb (used with object)

1. to ravage in search of plunder; pillage.

foray British  

/ ˈfɒreɪ /

noun

1. a short raid or incursion

2. a first attempt or new undertaking

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verb

1. to raid or ravage (a town, district, etc)

Other Word Forms

• forayer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of foray

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English forraien, apparently by back formation from forrayour, forreour, forrier, from Old French forrier, fourrier, equivalent to fo(u)rr(er), derivative of fuerre “provender” ( see forage) + -ier -ier ²

Explanation

Foray means brief excursion. If you're in the army, that's a literal excursion into enemy territory. For the rest of us, it means trying something out. "My foray into rugby ended with my spending a week in the hospital." This word derives from the Latin fuerre 'straw', which led into Old French as fourager 'forage,' or search for food. Think of soldiers stealing food from the enemy as maybe how this word first came to be used. Even if that is historically inaccurate, your foray into amateur word-sleuthing will help you remember this word.

Example Sentences

The Btk formulation the state will use against the spongy moths is Foray 48B, which is approved for use in organic agriculture.

From Seattle Times • May 9, 2024

Boris Karloff provides narration, with additional voices by Thurl Ravenscroft and June Foray.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 25, 2021

Cage’s brief brush with mainstream celebrity is recounted in John Cage: A Mycological Foray, an elegant art book that delves deep into the composer’s lifelong fascination with mushrooms.

From The Guardian • Aug. 19, 2020

John Cage: A Mycological Foray — Variations on Mushrooms,” Atelier Éditions, $55, limited collectors edition with recipes from atelier-editions.com; regular edition sold in bookstores starting July 21.

From New York Times • Jul. 13, 2020

“They use those guns that fire pieces of metal. Foray guns.”

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Related Words

• inroad
• invasion
• raid