tour of duty
Americannoun
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a period of military service in a particular theater of war, with a particular unit, or assigned to a particular task.
He volunteered for two tours of duty in Afghanistan.
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a period of work or service in a particular role, field, workplace, etc.; tour.
After a tour of duty in banking, she followed her father into the development company.
Etymology
Origin of tour of duty
First recorded in 1865–70
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.
When his tour of duty was over, the Englishman moved to California and saw the dark aftermath of the Summer of Love.
From Slate ● Dec. 23, 2025
Deputy Chief Constable Ben Snuggs said: "All officers should expect to return home safely after each tour of duty and we wish Christopher a swift and full recovery."
From BBC ● May 26, 2025
After a four-year tour of duty that included a posting in Japan, he got a job at Lockheed Martin, where he worked for the next 45 years, she said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 22, 2025
He decided to stay with his unit until the end of his tour of duty in May.
From Seattle Times ● May 26, 2024
“Ever since his tour of duty, he’s been different. But it wasn’t always this bad, not until his father...”
From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young
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.
