pilgrimage

1 of 2

noun

pil·​grim·​age ˈpil-grə-mij 

1

: a journey of a pilgrim

especially : one to a shrine or a sacred place

2

: the course of life on earth

pilgrimage

2 of 2

verb

pilgrimaged; pilgrimaging

intransitive verb

: to go on a pilgrimage

Synonyms of pilgrimage

Verb

• travel
• trek
• journey
• tour
• voyage
• trip

Examples of pilgrimage in a Sentence

Noun

He made a pilgrimage to Mecca.

The family went on a pilgrimage to historical battlefields.

The tradition of pilgrimage is important in Islam.

The poet's grave site has become a place of pilgrimage.

Verb

tourists pilgrimaging to all of the traditional destinations across Europe

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Social media was flooded with images and footage of guests making the pilgrimage to MSG. — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 4 July 2026

In neighboring offices during the height of the financial crisis, Warsh and Kohn would make daily pilgrimages to Bernanke’s office—weekends or otherwise—to go over the day’s developments and plan for the next. — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 3 July 2026

Verb

There are hiking trails and even pilgrimage routes all over the world. — Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026

Nearly 100,000 visitors pilgrimage to the area annually to witness a forest canopy cloaked in orange-and-black wings. — Jen Murphy, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1621, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pilgrimage

noun

pil·​grim·​age

ˈpil-grə-mij

: a journey of a pilgrim

pilgrimage verb