expedition
ehks-puh-DIH-shuhn
Expedition (noun) means a journey made by a person or group for a specific purpose, such as exploration, research, or military action. Example: “Planning a month-long expedition up the river takes careful preparation and a lot of supplies.”
noun
1
A journey made by a person or group for a specific purpose, such as exploration, research, or military action.
"Planning a month-long expedition up the river takes careful preparation and a lot of supplies."
"The team set off on an expedition to map the unexplored valley."
"A scientific expedition to Antarctica will study melting ice sheets."
2
The group of people making such a journey.
"The whole expedition was rescued by helicopter after the storm trapped them in the hills."
"The expedition was made up of two doctors, a cook and several climbers."
"The expedition camped at the base of the mountain before the final climb."
How to use expedition
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA trip made for a clear purpose, often to a remote or challenging place, or the group of people doing it.
Common pairings
go on an expedition
scientific expedition
lead an expedition
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Word forms
- Plural
- expeditions
- Third person singular
- expeditions
- Past tense
- expeditioned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Planning a month-long _____ up the river takes careful preparation and a lot of supplies.
Etymology
From Middle French expédition, from Latin expeditio, "a setting free of the feet" — the same root that gives us "expedite."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for expedition
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for expedition →
Frequently asked questions
What does “expedition” mean?
The word “expedition” means a journey made by a person or group for a specific purpose, such as exploration, research, or military action. In plain terms, a trip made for a clear purpose, often to a remote or challenging place, or the group of people doing it.
How do you pronounce “expedition”?
“Expedition” is pronounced ehks-puh-DIH-shuhn (/ɛkspəˈdɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “expedition” in a sentence?
Here is “expedition” used in a sentence: “The team set off on an expedition to map the unexplored valley.”
What part of speech is “expedition”?
“Expedition” is a noun.
Where does the word “expedition” come from?
The word “expedition” comes from Latin. From Middle French expédition, from Latin expeditio, "a setting free of the feet" — the same root that gives us "expedite.".
Is “expedition” a common word?
“Expedition” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “expedition” have?
“Expedition” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a journey made by a person or group for a specific purpose, such as exploration, research, or military action.
What is the difference between an expedition and a journey?
A journey is any act of travelling from one place to another, while an expedition is a journey undertaken for a specific purpose such as exploration, research, or military action. All expeditions are journeys, but not all journeys are expeditions.
What is the difference between an expedition and a trip?
A trip is a general, often short outing for business or pleasure, whereas an expedition implies a longer, organized undertaking with a defined goal, frequently into challenging or unfamiliar territory. Expeditions usually involve planning, equipment, and a team.
What verbs are commonly used with expedition?
You typically 'mount', 'lead', 'launch', 'organize', or 'go on' an expedition. 'Mount an expedition' and 'lead an expedition' are especially common collocations in writing about exploration and adventure.
Can expedition refer to people rather than a journey?
Yes. Besides meaning the journey itself, 'expedition' can refer to the group of people making the journey, as in 'the entire expedition reached the summit'. The meaning depends on context.
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