expedition
B2Formal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
A journey or voyage undertaken by a group of people with a particular purpose, especially exploration, research, or war.
The group of people undertaking such a journey; a short trip made for a specific purpose (e.g., shopping); promptness or speed in acting.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily associated with adventurous, scientific, or military journeys. The secondary meaning of 'promptness' is archaic but found in fixed phrases (e.g., 'with all expedition').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use the term for adventurous and scientific journeys. The shorter-trip meaning (e.g., 'a shopping expedition') is slightly more common in British English.
Connotations
Similar in both: adventure, purpose, organization.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
expedition to [place]expedition into [area/territory]expedition for [purpose]expedition led by [person]on an expeditionVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “fishing expedition (seeking information)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; sometimes used metaphorically for a major project or initiative (e.g., 'Our new product launch was a costly expedition').
Academic
Common in geography, history, and science contexts for describing research journeys.
Everyday
Used for organised trips, especially adventurous or shopping trips.
Technical
Specific in fields like archaeology, geology, and biology for fieldwork campaigns.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They are expediting the delivery. (Note: verb is 'expedite', not 'expedition')
American English
- We need to expedite the process. (Note: verb is 'expedite', not 'expedition')
adverb
British English
- They acted expeditionarily. (Rare/Formal)
American English
- The paperwork was completed expeditiously. (Related: expeditiously)
adjective
British English
- The expeditionary force was dispatched. (Expeditionary)
American English
- Expeditionary troops were deployed. (Expeditionary)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We went on a school expedition to the museum.
- The expedition to the mountains was very long.
- The scientific expedition discovered a new species of insect.
- She is planning a shopping expedition in town this weekend.
- Funding was secured for a three-month archaeological expedition to Peru.
- The polar expedition faced severe weather conditions but achieved its goals.
- The ill-fated expedition was hampered by logistical failures and internal dissent.
- His account of the Himalayan expedition transcends mere travelogue, delving into themes of human endurance.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of EX-PEDI-tion: EXit to go on a PEDIcured (planned/foot) journey with a missION.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE/ BUSINESS IS A JOURNEY; A PURPOSEFUL ACTIVITY IS AN EXPEDITION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'экспедиция' (which is a direct cognate and correct) or 'операция' (operation). 'Экспедиция' in Russian can also mean a shipping/despatch department, which is NOT a meaning of 'expedition'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'expedition' for a simple, unplanned walk (overuse). Confusing spelling with 'expedient'. Using 'on expedition' instead of 'on an expedition'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely use of 'expedition'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
An expedition implies a specifically organized, purposeful, and often challenging group journey. A 'journey' is more general for travelling from A to B. A 'trip' is often shorter and more casual.
No. The noun is 'expedition'. The related verb meaning 'to speed up a process' is 'expedite'.
It is neutral to formal. It is perfectly normal in everyday speech for planned outings (e.g., shopping expedition), but its core meaning is associated with formal, organized ventures.
It's an idiom meaning an investigation or questioning undertaken with the hope of discovering useful information, often without a clear focus or prior evidence.