sortie

noun

sor·​tie ˈsȯr-tē 

sȯr-ˈtē

1

: a sudden issuing of troops from a defensive position against the enemy

2

: one mission or attack by a single plane

3

a

: foray, raid

b

: excursion, expedition

diving sorties

sortie intransitive verb

sortied; sortieing

Synonyms

• excursion
• tour

Examples of sortie in a Sentence

an occasional sortie to the city to rummage through some of its numerous used-book stores

Recent Examples on the Web

The latest sorties come amid growing tensions between Moscow and the bloc following Russian aircraft buzzing NATO airspace and pledges by the U.S. and the alliance to provide more military help for Ukraine to fight Russian President Vladimir Putin's aggression. —Brendan Cole john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025

China has intensified pressure on Taiwan through near-daily military sorties in the Taiwan Strait, large-scale exercises and simulated blockades. —Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Aug. 2025

The Chinese Navy and Air Force have been sending planes and vessels on sorties around the island. —Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 July 2025

The group flew more than 15,000 sorties and destroyed more than 100 German aircraft. —Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French, from sortir to go out, leave

First Known Use

1778, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sortie

• corti
• forty
• rorty
• shorty
• sporty
• warty
• pianoforte

Kids Definition

sortie

noun

sor·​tie ˈsȯrt-ē 

sȯr-ˈtē

: a sudden rushing out of troops from a position of defense against the enemy : sally

sortie verb