Expedition

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /É›kspəˈdɪʃən/
• Rhymes: -ɪʃən

Origin

From Middle French expédition, from Latin expeditio

Full definition of expedition

Noun

1. (obsolete) The quality of being expedite; efficient promptness; haste; dispatch; speed; quickness; as to carry the mail with expedition.
• 1719: Daniel Defoe, one of them began to come nearer our boat than at first I expected; but I lay ready for him, for I had loaded my gun with all possible expedition...
• 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society 1973, p. 331:he presently exerted his utmost agility, and with surprizing expedition ascended the hill.
2. A sending forth or setting forth the execution of some object of consequence; progress.
3. An important enterprise, implying a change of place; especially, a warlike enterprise; a march or a voyage with martial intentions; an excursion by a body of persons for a valuable end; as, a military, naval, exploring, or scientific expedition.
4. The body of persons making such excursion.