# sortie

/ˈsɔɹti/ (US) · /sˈɔːti/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sortie
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

a short trip by soldiers or a military plane to attack or do a special job, and then return to base.

For teachers: a short mission by troops or military aircraft from a defensive position, typically to attack, reconnoitre, or gather intelligence before returning to base.

## Examples

- The pilot flies one sortie every morning.
- The squadron flew three sorties over the border to photograph enemy positions.
- After weeks of bad weather, the crew finally launched a dawn sortie that mapped the coastline in a single pass.

## Synonyms

raid, mission

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.