relating to or constituting an expedition, esp a military one
an expeditionary force
expeditionary in American English
(ˌekspɪˈdɪʃəˌneri)
adjective
pertaining to or composing an expedition
an expeditionary force
Word origin
[1700–10; expedition + -ary]This word is first recorded in the period 1700–10. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: camera, cirrus, emphatic, envelope, sliding scale-ary is a suffix occurring originally in loanwords from Classical and Medieval Latin,on adjectives (elementary; honorary; stationary; tributary), personal nouns (actuary; notary; secretary), or nouns denoting objects, esp. receptacles or places (library; rosary; glossary). The suffix has the general sense “pertaining to, connected with” the referent namedby the base; it is productive in English, sometimes with the additional senses “contributingto,” “for the purpose of,” and usually forming adjectives. Other words that use theaffix -ary include: complimentary, inflationary, revolutionary, visionary
Examples of 'expeditionary' in a sentence
expeditionary
An expeditionary force, to march to the support of Czecho-slovakia?
Townsend, Eileen IN LOVE AND WAR
Yet the army's overseas expeditionary force mustered just six divisions.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The think-tank said that defence policy was based on a doctrine of expeditionary operations.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Mission accomplished, the expeditionary force duly departed, although not before stealing much antiquarian booty.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We're in the midst of transitioning to an 'expeditionary mindset'.
The Sun (2014)
Now, however, operators are coming over all expeditionary.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The new aircraft carriers can be at the heart of such an expeditionary force.
Times, Sunday Times (2018)
Expeditionary air power is tactical air power, as applied by navies and armies.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We will still need a capability for expeditionary warfare.
The Sun (2010)
Canned food was a necessity to support expeditionary warfare.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Denmark's military doctrine is geared to expeditionary warfare and discounts territorial defence.