voyage

American  

[voi-ij] / ˈvɔɪ ɪdʒ /

noun

1. a course of travel or passage, especially a long journey by water to a distant place.

   Synonyms:

   cruise

2. a passage through air or space, as a flight in an airplane or space vehicle.

3. a journey or expedition from one place to another by land.

4. Often voyages. journeys or travels as the subject of a written account, or the account itself.

   the voyages of Marco Polo.

5. Obsolete. an enterprise or undertaking.

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verb (used without object)

voyaged, voyaging

1. to make or take a voyage; travel; journey.

verb (used with object)

voyaged, voyaging

1. to traverse by a voyage.

   to voyage the seven seas.

voyage British  

/ ˈvɔɪɪdʒ /

noun

1. a journey, travel, or passage, esp one to a distant land or by sea or air

2. obsolete an ambitious project

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verb

1. to travel over or traverse (something)

   we will voyage to Africa

voyage Idioms  

1. see maiden voyage.

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Related Words

See trip ¹.

Other Word Forms

• outvoyage verb (used with object)
• revoyage noun
• unvoyaging adjective
• voyager noun

Etymology

Origin of voyage

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English ve(i)age, viage, voyage, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin viāticum “travel-money”; see viaticum

Explanation

If someone tells you "bon voyage!" they mean have a good trip. Voyage means trip in French but in English, we use it to mean a long journey. Though voyage is usually used literally to mean a long and exciting journey or a trip that involves sailing such as a cruise, it can be used figuratively as well. Researching your family tree might become a voyage of self-discovery, taking you places you don't expect and teaching you more about yourself than you thought possible.

Example Sentences

The Iranian cargo ship seized by U.S. forces in the Gulf of Oman, MV Touska, visited the southern China port of Zhuhai twice last month before its return voyage.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

The return voyage lasted as long as a year, with cargo then transported across Mexico by mule before heading to Spain, completing a trade loop between the old and new worlds.

From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026

That ship, the MV Touska, had visited the Chinese port of Zhuhai twice last month before its return voyage.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

It’s a Homeric voyage, if Homer were familiar with the complicated system of roadways and toll stations that is the New Jersey Turnpike.

From Salon • Apr. 18, 2026

He agreed, and let it be known everywhere that this would be a voyage indeed.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton