expedition
gb/ˌɛkspədˈɪʃən/ us/ˌɛkspədˈɪʃən/
B1
English
~ 2200
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
event
1
organized journey for a goal
A planned trip made by a group of people to do something special, often in a faraway or difficult place.
Usage pattern:
to go on [an expedition]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'expedition' with 'vacation'; however, an expedition usually has a specific purpose beyond leisure.
Synonyms
journey (A more general term for traveling from one place to another, without implying organization or purpose beyond travel.)
|
mission (Implies a specific assignment or goal, often with official or formal backing.)
Antonyms
stay (Represents not traveling or remaining in the same place, which is the opposite of going on an expedition.)
Collocations
scientific expedition
|military expedition
|polar expedition
|go on an expedition
|lead an expedition
Themes
travel
|exploration
|science
Examples
- The team set out on an expedition to study the effects of climate change in the Arctic.
- She joined an expedition to climb Mount Everest.
- Several expeditions have been sent to search for the lost city.
Learner examples
- We went on an expedition to the mountains.
- The expedition will study animals in the forest.
- He joined an expedition to find old caves.
Noun
formal
B2
event
2
military operation abroad
A military trip to another country to fight or do a mission.
Synonyms
campaign (A broader term for a series of military operations, which may or may not involve travel abroad.)
Antonyms
defense (Focuses on protecting one's own territory rather than going abroad for action.)
Collocations
military expedition
|naval expedition
|punitive expedition
Themes
military
|history
|politics
|law
Examples
- The empire launched a naval expedition to secure trade routes.
- He wrote about his experiences during the military expedition to North Africa.
- The punitive expedition was intended to deter further attacks.
Learner examples
- The army went on a military expedition.
- They sent soldiers on an expedition to another land.
- The king ordered an expedition to fight rebels.
Noun
formal
C1
property
3
speed and efficiency
Doing something quickly and well.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this sense with 'expedition' meaning 'journey'; context usually clarifies the intended meaning.
Synonyms
promptness (Focuses purely on quickness without necessarily implying efficiency.)
|
efficiency (Focuses on achieving results with minimal waste, not always implying speed.)
Antonyms
delay (Represents slowness or lateness, the opposite of quick and efficient action.)
Collocations
with great expedition
Themes
work
|productivity
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The matter was handled with great expedition.
- She completed the report with expedition and accuracy.
- We need to proceed with more expedition if we are to meet the deadline.
Learner examples
- He finished the work with expedition.
- They moved with expedition to help the injured man.
- The job was done with great expedition.
Grammar
Dictionary form
expedition
IPA
GB/ˌɛkspədˈɪʃən/
US/ˌɛkspədˈɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
ex - ped - i - tion (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (i)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: expedition
- Plural: expedition, expeditions
Word family
Forms
expeditions
noun
Related words
Advanced or less common
expeditionary
adjective
Expressions
go on an expedition
1/ɡˈoʊ ˈɔn ən ˌɛkspədˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
start a planned journey
To begin a planned trip for research, exploration, or another special goal.
Examples
- Next summer, they will go on an expedition to study volcanoes.
- We went on an expedition to the desert to collect samples.
lead an expedition
1/lˈid ən ˌɛkspədˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
be in charge of journey team
To be the person in control of a group making a planned trip for a special purpose.
Examples
- She will lead an expedition into the rainforest.
- He led an expedition to climb the highest peak in the region.
scientific expedition
1/sˌaɪəntˈɪfɪk ˌɛkspədˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
trip for scientific research
A planned trip by scientists to study something in another place.
Examples
- The scientific expedition collected data on marine life.
- He joined a scientific expedition to Antarctica.