What does "expedition" mean?
The act of expediting something; prompt execution.
Expedition
noun, verb
noun, verb ·4 syllables ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of expediting something; prompt execution.
- Grammar: expedition is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: advance, advancement, adventure, adventuring.
- Useful contrasts: prolonged stoppage, continuance, dallying.
- Usage evidence: The boy dreamed of going on an Antarctic expedition.
How to use "expedition"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "expedition" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "expedition" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "expedition" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "expedition" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "expedition" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "advance" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "expedition", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of expediting something; prompt execution. countable, obsolete, uncountable
"My Lord the great Commander of the worlde, […] Hath now in armes ten thouſand Ianiſaries, […] And for the expedition of this war, If he thinke good, can from his garriſons, UUithdraw as many more to follow him."
- 2 a journey organized for a particular purpose wordnet
- 3 A military journey; an enterprise against some enemy or into enemy territory. countable, uncountable
"Once established in their capital at Nanking, occupied March, 1853, and renamed “Heavenly Capital” (T’ien-ching), the Taipings sent out an expedition to take Peking which again made striking gains initially, but was eventually slowed, isolated, and defeated."
- 4 a journey taken for pleasure wordnet
- 5 The quality of being expedite; speed, quickness. archaic, countable, uncountable
"one of them began to come nearer our boat than at first I expected; but I lay ready for him, for I had loaded my gun with all possible expedition […]."
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 a military campaign designed to achieve a specific objective in a foreign country wordnet
- 7 An important or long journey, for example a march or a voyage. countable, uncountable
- 8 the property of being prompt and efficient wordnet
- 9 A trip, especially a long one, made by a person or a group of people for a specific purpose. countable, uncountable
"a naval expedition"
- 10 an organized group of people undertaking a journey for a particular purpose wordnet
- 11 The group of people making such excursion. collective, countable, uncountable
- 12 The process or activities of performing expediter tasks. countable, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To take part in a trip or expedition; to travel. intransitive
"The attendance was given color by the ISO women who graced some of the sessions, attended the social events and expeditioned around the famous spots in Washington and its periphery area."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"The boy dreamed of going on an Antarctic expedition."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "expedition"?
Common synonyms include: advance, advancement, adventure, adventuring, agility, air speed.
How do you use "expedition" in a sentence?
The boy dreamed of going on an Antarctic expedition.
Etymology
From Middle French expédition, and its source, Latin expeditio.