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

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.

From BBC

More than a million people are estimated to have made a pilgrimage to the Italian hilltop town of Assisi where Carlo's body lies, preserved in wax.

From BBC

While Pasadena will be the center of the rock and roll universe this weekend, Oasis posted a live map of pre-parties and band-historic sites in Los Angeles where the devoted can take a pilgrimage.

From Los Angeles Times

I made the pilgrimage back a few years ago.

From Los Angeles Times

A pilgrimage to Burning Man is an escape from what Burners call the “default world.”

From Salon

Related Words

• crusade 
• excursion 
• expedition 
• tour 
• trip