An expedition is an organized journey that is made for a particular purpose such as exploration.
...Byrd's 1928 expedition to Antarctica. [+ to]
Synonyms: journey, exploration, mission, voyage More Synonyms of expedition
2. countable noun
You can refer to a group of people who are going on an expedition as an expedition.
Forty-three members of the expedition were killed.
Synonyms: team, crew, party, group More Synonyms of expedition
3. countable noun
An expedition is a short journey or trip that you make for pleasure.
Caroline joined them on the shopping expeditions.
...a fishing expedition.
More Synonyms of expedition
expedition in British English
(ˌɛkspɪˈdɪʃən)
noun
1.
an organized journey or voyage for a specific purpose, esp for exploration or for a scientific or military purpose
2.
the people and equipment comprising an expedition
3.
a pleasure trip; excursion
4.
promptness in acting; dispatch
Word origin
C15: from Latin expedītiō, from expedīre to prepare, expedite
expedition in American English
(ˌɛkspəˈdɪʃən)
noun
1.
a.
a sending forth or starting out on a journey, voyage, march, etc. for some definite purpose, as exploration or battle
b.
the journey, etc. itself
c.
the people, ships, equipment, etc. on such a journey
2.
efficient speed; dispatch
SIMILAR WORDS: haste, trip
Derived forms
expeditionary (ˌexpeˈditionˌary)
adjective
Word origin
ME expedicioun < OFr expedition < L expeditio < pp. of expedire: see expedite
More idioms containing
expedition
be on a fishing expedition
Examples of 'expedition' in a sentence
expedition
Expedition voyages are meticulously planned and all ships have, at the very least, a bar and comfortable cabins.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
On our return to base, my expedition group was able to go into the dogs' large kennels to stroke them and play with the puppies.
The Sun (2016)
He often bought us presents and took me on shopping expeditions.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This is not an exploration or a scientific expedition.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He was mentioned in dispatches for this expedition.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
When there is no evidence there should be no fishing expeditions.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
How else are banks bailed out or military expeditions funded?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
And he was taken on shopping expeditions in search of vegetables and proteins.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Their continuing actions are clearly a fishing expedition.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
After the shopping expedition it was time to party.
The Sun (2007)
It was a fishing expedition without a hook.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Had it been lost overboard during a prehistoric fishing expedition?
Francis Pryor BRITAIN BC: Life In Britain and Ireland before the Romans (2003)
The expedition did useful scientific work and Banks successfully climbed a number of unexplored summits.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Initially these took the form of French military expeditions.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This January can only have been a more than usually urgent fishing expedition.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Shareholder champion, or law firm on a fishing expedition?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The vanguard of his expedition group is seen on this page, barely visible in the bleak surroundings.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Hopefully, none of them will require too mammoth a shopping expedition on the way back from work.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He argued that since the sixteenth century continental military expeditions had played only a minor role in British policy.
French, David The British way in Warfare - 1688-2000 (1990)
So now into the wider world he steps, by way of a shopping expedition for his new office.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
She accompanies a military expedition to the planet where she first encountered the monster, only to end up battling hordes of the creatures.
The Sun (2011)
All app users can extend their parking time through their smartphone without returning to their car: handy if your shopping expedition or meeting overruns.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The course is a mix of group painting expeditions, one-to-one tuition and free time.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
More than 25 scientific search expeditions have done their best, but all have drawn a blank.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In some cases, the German government sent mixed civilian and military expeditions to organise evacuation.
Bramwell, Anna C Refugees in the Age of Total War (1988)
The weather was also a factor in this as consumers sought convenience in their shopping expeditions, buying both food and presents in the same trip.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
I suddenly realise that the ambition of my life has been... to go on a military expedition to Constantinople.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
expedition
British English: expedition /ˌɛkspɪˈdɪʃən/ NOUN
An expedition is a journey made for a particular purpose such as exploration.
...an expedition to Antarctica.
American English: expedition
Arabic: رِحْلَة
Brazilian Portuguese: expedição
Chinese: 远征
Croatian: ekspedicija
Czech: expedice
Danish: ekspedition
Dutch: expeditie
European Spanish: expedición
Finnish: tutkimusretki
French: expédition
German: Expedition
Greek: εξερευνητική αποστολή
Italian: spedizione
Japanese: 探検
Korean: 탐험
Norwegian: ekspedisjon
Polish: wyprawa
European Portuguese: expedição
Romanian: expediție
Russian: экспедиция
Latin American Spanish: expedición
Swedish: expedition
Thai: การเดินทาง
Turkish: keşif gezisi
Ukrainian: експедиція
Vietnamese: cuộc thám hiểm
Chinese translation of 'expedition'
expedition
(ɛkspəˈdɪʃən)
n(c)
(to explore) 探险(險) (tànxiǎn) (次, cì)
(to go shopping, fishing) 出行 (chūxíng) (次, cì)
1 (noun)
Definition
an organized journey or voyage, esp. for exploration
Byrd's 1928 expedition to Antarctica
Synonyms
journey
a journey from Manchester to Plymouth
exploration
We devoted a week to the exploration of the Mayan sites of Copan.
mission
the most crucial stage of his latest peace mission
voyage
She aims to follow Amundsen's voyage to Antarctica.
tour
enterprise
Horse breeding is a risky enterprise.
undertaking
Organizing the show has been a massive undertaking.
quest
Sir Guy the Seeker came on his quest to Dunstanburgh Castle.
trek
He is on a trek through the South Gobi desert.
2 (noun)
Definition
the people and equipment comprising an expedition
All twelve members of the expedition made it to the top of the mountain.
Synonyms
team
Mr Hunter and his management team
crew
The film crew spent nearly twelve weeks shooting in Thailand.
party
a party of explorers
group
a small group of football supporters
company
He was a notable young actor in a company of rising stars.
travellers
explorers
voyagers
wayfarers
3 (noun)
Definition
a pleasure trip or excursion
We went on a shopping expedition.
Synonyms
trip
On the Thursday we went out on a day trip.
tour
week five of my tour of European cities
outing
families on a Sunday afternoon outing
excursion
We also recommend a full day excursion to the Upper Douro.
jaunt
I decided to take a jaunt down to Long Beach.
awayday
4 (noun)
He was praised for having acted with such expedition.
Synonyms
speed
I was amazed at his speed of working.
hurry
the hurry of people wanting to get home
dispatch
He feels we should act with despatch.
readiness
the warmth of his personality and the readiness of his wit
haste
Authorities appear to be moving with haste against the three dissidents.
alacrity
As you can imagine, I accepted with alacrity.
rapidity
the rapidity with which the weather can change
quickness
swiftness
With incredible swiftness she ran down the passage.
promptness
the company's promptness in settling its debts
celerity (formal)
expeditiousness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of alacrity
Definition
speed or eagerness
As you can imagine, I accepted with alacrity.
Synonyms
eagerness,
enthusiasm,
willingness,
readiness,
speed,
zeal,
gaiety (old-fashioned),
alertness,
hilarity,
cheerfulness,
quickness,
liveliness,
briskness,
promptness,
avidity,
joyousness,
sprightliness,
dispatch
in the sense of celerity
Definition
swiftness
Synonyms
speed,
expedition,
dispatch,
velocity,
haste,
rapidity,
quickness,
swiftness,
promptness,
fleetness
in the sense of company
Definition
a number of people gathered together
He was a notable young actor in a company of rising stars.