Etymologically
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expedition

Etymology and origin of the English word expedition

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
1430
Borrowed from
Old French expedicion
Ultimate origin
Latin (expeditio)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˌek.spɪˈdɪʃ.ən/[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Old French expedicion (“a dispatch, mission”) (13th century) and directly from Latin expedītiō, an enterprise against an enemy,[2][3][4] a noun from expedīre, to free, make ready (see expedite).[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

A military campaign, a setting forth with warlike intentions: 1430 in the OED, the early 15th century in Etymonline.[5][2]

Semantic evolution

Early senses included the prompt doing or supply of something, and speed in action (1464), which survives as a formal word for promptness.[5][4][6] The issuing of official documents is from 1513.[5] A journey or voyage for a definite purpose is from 1591, the 1590s in Etymonline,[5][2] and the body of people making it from the 1690s.[2][5] A pleasure trip or outing is a looser modern use.[7]

Timeline

  • 1430 – a military enterprise.[5]
  • 1464 – prompt action, speed.[5]
  • 1591 – a purposeful journey.[5]
  • 1693 – the people on such a journey.[5]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. An organized journey or voyage for a purpose such as exploration, research or war.
  2. The people and equipment making such a journey.
  3. A short trip or excursion.
  4. (formal) Speed or promptness.

Word family

  • expeditioner
  • expeditionary
  • fishing expedition
  • expedite
  • expedient
  • impede
  • pedal

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  7. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Expedition.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/expedition. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·