Dictionary
expedition
noun ex·pe·di·tion \ˌek-spə-ˈdi-shən\
: a journey especially by a group of people for a specific purpose (such as to explore a distant place or to do research)
: a group of people who travel together to a distant place : a group of people who go on an expedition
Full Definition of EXPEDITION
1
a : a journey or excursion undertaken for a specific purpose b : the group of persons making such a journey
2
: efficient promptness : speed
3
: a sending or setting forth
— ex·pe·di·tion·er \-sh(ə-)nər\ noun
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First Known Use of EXPEDITION
15th century
Synonym Discussion of EXPEDITION
haste, hurry, speed, expedition, dispatch mean quickness in movement or action. haste applies to personal action and implies urgency and precipitancy and often rashness <marry in haste>. hurry often has a strong suggestion of agitated bustle or confusion <in the hurry of departure she forgot her toothbrush>. speed suggests swift efficiency in movement or action <exercises to increase your reading speed>. expedition and dispatch both imply speed and efficiency in handling affairs but expedition stresses ease or efficiency of performance and dispatch stresses promptness in concluding matters <the case came to trial with expedition> <paid bills with dispatch>.
Rhymes with EXPEDITION
acoustician, acquisition, admonition, aesthetician, air-condition, ammunition, apparition, apposition, coalition, co-edition, competition, composition, cosmetician, decommission, decondition, definition, demolition, deposition, dietitian, disposition, disquisition, electrician, erudition, exhibition, exposition, extradition, first edition, imposition, in addition, inanition, in commission, inhibition, inquisition, intermission, intromission, intuition, linguistician, logistician, malnutrition, malposition, manumission, mathematician, mechanician, micturition, obstetrician, on commission, opposition, Ordovician, parturition, politician, precognition, precondition, premonition, preposition, proposition, recognition, recondition, repetition, requisition, rescue mission, rhetorician, self-ignition, statistician, submunition, superstition, supposition, text edition, trade edition, transposition
EXPEDITION Defined for Kids
expedition
noun ex·pe·di·tion \ˌek-spə-ˈdi-shən\
Definition of EXPEDITION for Kids
1
: a journey for a particular purpose <a scientific expedition>
2
: a group of people traveling for exploration or adventure
Word Root of EXPEDITION
The Latin word pes, meaning “foot,” and its form pedis give us the root ped. A pedestrian is a person who travels on foot. Before trains, planes, and cars, an expedition, or journey, was often carried out by foot. An impediment makes movement or progress difficult, as if getting in the way of the feet.
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