pilgrimage

[pil-gruh-mij]

noun

1. a journey, especially a long one, made to some sacred place as an act of religious devotion.

   a pilgrimage to Lourdes.

2. Islam.

   1. the Pilgrimage, hajj.

   2. ʿumrah.

3. any long journey, especially one undertaken as a quest or for a votive purpose, as to pay homage.

   a pilgrimage to the grave of Shakespeare.

   Synonyms: tour, excursion

verb (used without object)

pilgrimaged, pilgrimaging 

1. to make a pilgrimage.

pilgrimage

/ ˈpɪlɡrɪmɪdʒ /

noun

1. a journey to a shrine or other sacred place

2. a journey or long search made for exalted or sentimental reasons

verb

1. (intr) to make a pilgrimage

Word History and Origins

Origin of pilgrimage¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English pilegrimage ( pilgrim, -age ); replacing earlier pelrimage, alteration of Old French pelerinage

Synonym Study

See trip ¹.

Example Sentences

Tourism to the area has all but withered away, said Hussein Hamad, the caretaker of the archaeological pilgrimage site in Ezariya thought to be the site of Lazarus’ tomb.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

HYDERABAD, India—Devout Hindus often pilgrimage to temples seeking divine intervention in matters of health, wealth and love.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Nearly 80,000 people make the pilgrimage to Burning Man every year.

Read more on Salon

Vadim Kruglov, 37, had been living in Washington state and, according to friends’ Instagram accounts, was making his first pilgrimage to Burning Man.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Some 1,400 Catholics donning rainbow attire and carrying crosses are taking part in the first officially recognised LGBTQ+ pilgrimage to Rome as part of the Vatican's Jubilee Year.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• crusade 
• excursion 
• expedition 
• tour 
• trip