excursion
noun
ex·cur·sion ik-ˈskər-zhən 
1
a
: a going out or forth : expedition
b(1)
: a usually brief pleasure trip
(2)
: a trip at special reduced rates
2
: deviation from a direct, definite, or proper course
especially : digression
needless excursions into abstruse theory
3
: a movement outward and back or from a mean position or axis
also : the distance traversed : amplitude
the excursion of a piston
Did you know?
In Latin, the prefix ex- means "out of" and the verb currere means "to run." When the two are put together, they form the verb excurrere, literally "to run out" or "to extend." Excurrere gave rise not only to excursion but also to excurrent (an adjective for things having channels or currents that run outward) and excursus (meaning "an appendix or digression that contains further exposition of some point or topic"). Other words deriving from currere include corridor, curriculum, and among newer words, parkour.
Synonyms
- jaunt
- junket
- outing
- ramble
- sally
- sashay
- sortie
- spin
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
They went on a brief excursion to the coast. our weekend excursions have encompassed virtually all parts of our home state
Recent Examples on the Web The elevator ride between the big leagues and Triple A Worcester should not be a part of his excursion. 
Julian Mcwilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Sep. 2022 During a recent moonlit harbor excursion, conversation quickly turned to tales of piracy and exploration. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 30 July 2022 During a boating excursion to an island, Lundius experienced some difficulty getting onto the boat. Ciara Turner-ewert, USA TODAY, 24 June 2022 Kelly debuted darker pink hair during the excursion. Alyssa Bailey, ELLE, 7 June 2022 From today on, and until further notice, anyone outside must carry with them an official document called Attestation de Déplacement Dérogatoire, duly filled out and signed, asserting the explicit reason for any excursion. Anastasia Edel, The New York Review of Books, 22 Mar. 2020 After returning to the States from her European excursion, Jolie has been busy sending off her 17-year-old daughter, Zahara Jolie-Pitt, to college. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 16 Aug. 2022 Her latest excursion was a stop in Hubbardston this week. Shannon Larson, BostonGlobe.com, 29 July 2022 Salem pushed around two dozen peanuts during his weeklong excursion. Isabella Rosario, Outside Online, 19 July 2022 See More
Julian Mcwilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Sep. 2022 During a recent moonlit harbor excursion, conversation quickly turned to tales of piracy and exploration. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 30 July 2022 During a boating excursion to an island, Lundius experienced some difficulty getting onto the boat. Ciara Turner-ewert, USA TODAY, 24 June 2022 Kelly debuted darker pink hair during the excursion. Alyssa Bailey, ELLE, 7 June 2022 From today on, and until further notice, anyone outside must carry with them an official document called Attestation de Déplacement Dérogatoire, duly filled out and signed, asserting the explicit reason for any excursion. Anastasia Edel, The New York Review of Books, 22 Mar. 2020 After returning to the States from her European excursion, Jolie has been busy sending off her 17-year-old daughter, Zahara Jolie-Pitt, to college. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 16 Aug. 2022 Her latest excursion was a stop in Hubbardston this week. Shannon Larson, BostonGlobe.com, 29 July 2022 Salem pushed around two dozen peanuts during his weeklong excursion. Isabella Rosario, Outside Online, 19 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin excursion-, excursio, from excurrere
First Known Use
circa 1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
excursion
noun
ex·cur·sion ik-ˈskər-zhən
1
: a brief trip for pleasure
2
: a trip at special reduced rates
Medical Definition
excursion
noun
ex·cur·sion ik-ˈskər-zhən
1
a
: a movement outward and back or from a mean position or axis
excursion of the femur
b
: the distance traversed
2
: one complete movement of expansion and contraction of the lungs and their membranes (as in breathing)
excursions
noun
1
as in tours
a short trip for pleasure our weekend excursions have encompassed virtually all parts of our home state Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- tours
- travels
- expeditions
- outings
- jaunts
- sorties
- junkets
- journeys
- voyages
- walks
- rambles
- detours
- sallies
- hikes
- treks
- spins
- safaris
- odysseys
- pilgrimages
- sashays
- peregrinations
- circuits
2
as in tangents
a departure from the subject under consideration the professor's frequent and sometimes far-ranging excursions in his lectures are the stuff of campus legend Synonyms & Similar Words
- tangents
- digressions
- asides
- divagations
- excursus
- circumlocutions
- excursuses
- parentheses
- ramblings
- verbosities
- prolixities
- circularities