Word
expedition
Phoneticsex·pe·di·tion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɛkspəˈdɪʃən/
UK/ˌɛkspədˈɪʃən/
Definitions
01a purposeful journey
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a long trip made by a group of people for a special reason, such as exploring or studying something.
n. an organized journey or voyage undertaken by a group of people with a definite objective, such as exploration, research, or a specific task.
日本語:探検※
“The scientists went on an expedition to the Amazon to study rare birds.”
“The university funded a three-month archaeological expedition to Egypt in hopes of uncovering remains from the Middle Kingdom.”
Usage
Often used with the verbs 'go on', 'lead', or 'organize'.
02the group of people
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. the group of people who are going on a special journey together.
n. a collective noun referring to the organized group of people participating in a specific journey or mission.
“The expedition was forced to turn back when the weather became too dangerous.”
“After weeks of trekking through the jungle, the expedition finally reached the ruins of the ancient city.”
03military mission
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Military
n. a journey made by soldiers to fight an enemy or reach a specific area.
n. a military enterprise or campaign conducted in a foreign territory or against an enemy.
日本語:遠征※
“The army sent a small expedition to secure the border before winter.”
“The naval expedition was launched with the primary objective of disrupting enemy supply lines along the coast.”
04speed or efficiency
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Formal · Archaic
n. doing something quickly and without wasting time.
n. the quality of being prompt or efficient in the execution of a task.
“The manager handled the customer's complaint with great expedition.”
“The judge requested that the legal proceedings be carried out with all possible expedition to ensure a timely verdict.”
Teaching tip
This sense is rare in modern conversation; learners will mostly encounter it in formal legal or historical texts.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “expedition” in context.
Verb
01. expedition returns
“The expedition returns next month with all their findings.”
noun + verb
02. expedition sets off
“The expedition sets off at dawn to avoid the midday heat.”
noun + verb
03. join expedition
“She was invited to join the expedition as the lead photographer.”
verb + noun
04. lead expedition
“A famous explorer was chosen to lead the expedition across the desert.”
verb + noun
05. mount expedition
“The university decided to mount an expedition to search for the ancient ruins.”
verb + noun
06. organize expedition
“It took several months to organize the expedition and gather supplies.”
verb + noun
Adjective
07. military expedition
“The king led a military expedition to reclaim the lost territory.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. leader of expedition
“The leader of the expedition made the difficult decision to turn back.”
noun + prep + noun
09. member of expedition
“Every member of the expedition had to undergo rigorous physical training.”
noun + prep + noun
10. embark on an expedition
“The crew is ready to embark on an expedition to the Arctic.”
11. finance a research expedition
“The government agreed to finance a research expedition to the deep sea.”
12. go on an expedition
“They decided to go on an expedition to the Amazon basin.”
Etymology
From Middle French expédition, and its source, Latin expeditio.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/expedition
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0