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:
On TV, actors Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds’ excursion into the wild world of British Premier football, “Welcome to Wrexham,” recently expanded to include a women’s team, the Red Dragons.
From Salon ● Aug. 7, 2026
Fly fishing comes with an additional charge: $500 for a half-day excursion, and $850 for a full-day, which includes lunch from the Huntōn, the hotel’s Michelin-recognized restaurant.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 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
“Neighbor disputes are a great leveler,” says Harrison Fishman, who co-directs this gonzo excursion into neighborhood feuds with Dylan Redford.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026
The shopping excursion was the first of many encounters between my grandfather and this man, who would become a mentor, teacher, and friend to him.
From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore
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
There are multiple excursions for barbecue, each resulting in stained clothes for Rebecca.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
In the video, King Misuzulu criticises his wife, who he married last November, for making excursions without his approval.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
That means easy access to excellent hiking, mountain biking and guided fly-fishing excursions on sought-after rivers and streams, including the Madison and Gallatin rivers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
She had not ventured far from the Hatchery before this, just the short excursions with her coworkers.
From "Son" by Lois Lowry
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.
