excursion
Americannoun
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excursions
plural
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a short trip or outing to some place, usually for a special purpose and with the intention of a prompt return.
a pleasure excursion; a scientific excursion.
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a trip on a train, ship, etc., at a reduced rate.
weekend excursions to mountain resorts.
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the group of persons making such a journey.
an excursion of tourists.
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a deviation or digression.
excursions into futile philosophizing.
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Physics. the displacement of a body or a point from a mean position or neutral value, as in an oscillation.
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an accidental increase in the power level of a reactor, usually forcing its emergency shutdown.
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Machinery.
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the range of stroke of any moving part.
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the stroke itself.
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Obsolete. a sally or raid.
verb (used without object)
adjective
noun
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a short outward and return journey, esp for relaxation, sightseeing, etc; outing
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a group of people going on such a journey
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(modifier) of or relating to special reduced rates offered on certain journeys by rail
an excursion ticket
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a digression or deviation; diversion
an excursion into politics
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(formerly) a raid or attack
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physics
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a movement from an equilibrium position, as in an oscillation
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the magnitude of this displacement
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the normal movement of a movable bodily organ or part from its resting position, such as the lateral movement of the lower jaw
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machinery the locus of a point on a moving part, esp the deflection of a whirling shaft
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of excursion
First recorded in 1565–75, excursion is from the Latin word excursiōn- (stem of excursiō ). See excursus, -ion
Explanation
An excursion is taken more for pleasure than for practical reasons. Your business trip, when you spent most of the week waiting in airports and adjusting to different time zones, does not count as an excursion. The Latin root for excursion is excurrere, meaning "to run out." So if you run out for a bit to get some fresh air, you've gone on an excursion. If you leave specifically to buy milk from the corner store and end up swimming in a stream, you've probably taken an excursion into the woods.
Vocabulary lists containing excursion
"The Great Gatsby," Chapter 1 Vocabulary
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Surviving Hitler
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Greetings, World Traveler! — List 3
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A notion that blossomed from an idealistic vision was Martinized into a cult-like excursion for the privileged.
From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026
Admire the classic and modern boats in the port, or sign up for an excursion with Bateaux Verts, which offers ferry rides and boat trips.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
About 50 students from St Gregory Primary School in Sudbury, Suffolk, went to the capital on Tuesday for what they believed would be a standard "old-fashioned" excursion.
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026
On a nightclub excursion while he was working on “Ciao! Manhattan,” he heard the unearthly sounds made by an early synthesizer designed by Robert Moog.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
By this time all three Incorrigibles had fallen asleep, as children on the way home from a long excursion so often do, even to this day.
From "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling" by Maryrose Wood
Avoiding outdoor excursions, or reaching more frequently for walls or furniture to steady yourself while walking, particularly in familiar spaces, could be an indicator your balance is declining.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
Book a ride with Cavalos na Areia, whose guided excursions also traverse pine forests and rice fields before arriving at the beach.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
This route brings people together, including me and my car enthusiast friends, who regularly go on these driving excursions — gas prices be damned.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
When Netflix announced the first-ever Chef’s Table Food Festival, bringing 70 internationally acclaimed chefs to Park City for four days of dinners, demonstrations and excursions, I felt something between excitement and apprehension.
From Salon ● Aug. 6, 2026
They, of course, barely seemed to notice I wasn’t around, having been surrounded by cousins and friends and babysitters all day long, playing games in the hotel room and going on excursions around town.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
