expedition

[ek-spi-dish-uhn]

noun

1. an excursion, journey, or voyage made for some specific purpose, as of war or exploration.

2. the group of persons, ships, etc., engaged in such an activity.

   a large expedition of scientists and military personnel.

3. promptness or speed in accomplishing something.

   He worked with great expedition.

   Synonyms: alacrity, dispatch, quickness

expedition

/ ˌɛkspɪˈdɪʃən /

noun

1. an organized journey or voyage for a specific purpose, esp for exploration or for a scientific or military purpose

2. the people and equipment comprising an expedition

3. a pleasure trip; excursion

4. promptness in acting; dispatch

Other Word Forms

• preexpedition noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of expedition¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin expedītiōn- (stem of expedītiō ) “a (military) traveling.” See expedite, -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of expedition¹

C15: from Latin expedītiō, from expedīre to prepare, _expedite

Idioms and Phrases

see fishing expedition.

Synonym Study

See trip ¹.

Example Sentences

"We are confident that some of the species there have not yet been described. However, a dedicated expedition would be needed to fully study this unique habitat."

Read more on Science Daily

He was killed by a stingray during a diving expedition off the Australian coast in 2006, when Robert was just a baby.

Read more on BBC

A decade later, at 69, he joined a two-week expedition to the North Pole, traveling by airplane, skis and dog sleds.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Even now, as she escorted the Incorrigible children on their first-ever outdoor bird-watching expedition, she could not help noticing the small white flowers scattered throughout the lush grass of the parkland surrounding Ashton Place.

Read more on Literature

It was customary for those who completed a profitable sponge-diving expedition to spend weeks, even months, celebrating their success.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• caravan 
• crew 
• cruise 
• crusade 
• excursion 
• exploration 
• jaunt 
• outing 
• patrol 
• quest 
• safari 
• squadron 
• tour 
• travel 
• trek 
• trip 
• undertaking 

When To Use

What is an expedition?

An expedition is an organized journey or voyage made with a specific purpose, as in Johann packed only a large backpack for the expedition across the Alps. An expedition can describe any trip made with a specific purpose or for the purpose of simple exploration. The term is used formally by militaries, cartographers, groups that aim to protect wildlife, and many others. For example, a military expedition is a specific type of military operation in which a group of soldiers move into a foreign country to accomplish a task. Expedition can also be used to refer to a pleasure trip, especially for a trip to a location that is farther than a person would normally go. Expedition can also refer to the group of people who go on the trip. For example, a scientific expedition to the rainforest can mean the trip to the rainforest or those who go on the trip. Example: We took an expedition around the world to see all the sights.