excursion

noun

ex·​cur·​sion ik-ˈskər-zhən 

1

a

: a going out or forth : expedition

b(1)

: a usually brief pleasure trip

(2)

: a trip at special reduced rates

2

: deviation from a direct, definite, or proper course

especially : digression

needless excursions into abstruse theory

3

: a movement outward and back or from a mean position or axis

also : the distance traversed : amplitude

the excursion of a piston

Did you know?

A Tribe Called Quest’s 1991 album The Low End Theory is not only widely regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, but one of the genre’s most successful early excursions into jazz, utilizing samples and even featuring legendary bassist Ron Carter on one song. Excursion refers to a usually brief, pleasurable trip, and is often used figuratively—as in the previous sentence—for metaphorical trips outside of one’s usual territory, be they artistic or otherwise. The word comes from the Latin verb excurrere (“to run out” or “to extend”), which combines the prefix ex- meaning “out of” and the verb currere meaning “to run.” Although it is sometimes used to refer to attacks or raids made against an enemy, as in “military excursions,” excursion is mostly used today for much more enjoyable jaunts, junkets, and rambles. Accordingly, on your next excursion, whether to the park, beach, or elsewhere, you could do worse than to queue up The Low End Theory on your playlist. The album’s first track, after all, is titled “Excursions.”

Synonyms of excursion

• tour
• jaunt
• expedition
• outing

Examples of excursion in a Sentence

They went on a brief excursion to the coast.

our weekend excursions have encompassed virtually all parts of our home state

Recent Examples on the Web

Off the train, guests in the suites will enjoy special excursions, like a private charter flight to the Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park and private Champagne lunch. —Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2026

During its 10-day excursion, the four-person crew traveled farther from Earth than any other humans — as well as witnessed a rare solar eclipse from deep space and observed a 600-mile-wide crater on the moon’s surface. —Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026

Her family and others who'd booked the excursion got off the ship and onto a smaller boat with glass windows, abundant seating and snacks. —ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026

And the replacement for shore excursions? —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin excursion-, excursio, from excurrere

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for excursion

• aspersion
• aversion
• conversion
• dispersion
• diversion
• eversion
• immersion
• incursion
• inversion
• perversion
• recursion
• reversion

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Kids Definition

excursion

noun

ex·​cur·​sion ik-ˈskər-zhən 

1

a

: a short trip for pleasure

b

: a trip at special reduced rates

2

: a wandering off from the subject : digression

Etymology

from Latin excursio, excursion- "a going out," from excurrere "to run out, make an excursion, extend," from ex- "out, forth" and currere "to run" — related to current

Medical Definition

excursion

noun

ex·​cur·​sion ik-ˈskər-zhən 

1

a

: a movement outward and back or from a mean position or axis

excursion of the femur

b

: the distance traversed

2

: one complete movement of expansion and contraction of the lungs and their membranes (as in breathing)