expeditionary

adjective

ex·​pe·​di·​tion·​ary ˌek-spə-ˈdi-shə-ˌner-ē How to pronounce expeditionary (audio)
: of, relating to, or being an expedition
also : sent on military service abroad
an expeditionary force

Examples of expeditionary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Continental Army was going to square off against the largest expeditionary force in British history in the summer of 1776. Christopher Magra, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026 Since then, F-15Es have been used for air expeditionary force deployments and operations, including the no-fly zone in Southern Iraq as well as in Turkey and Bosnia. Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026 In the 1930s, the Marine Corps, the most independent of the military services, wrote a doctrine explicitly subordinating its expeditionary forces to the direction of diplomats. Kori Schake, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026 The Marines being sent to the region are an expeditionary unit designed for quick amphibious landings, but their deployment does not mean a ground invasion is certain. Nicholas Riccardi, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for expeditionary

Word History

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of expeditionary was in 1817

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Cite this Entry

“Expeditionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expeditionary. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

expeditionary

adjective
ex·​pe·​di·​tion·​ary ek-spə-ˈdish-ə-ˌner-ē How to pronounce expeditionary (audio)
: sent on military service abroad
an expeditionary force
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