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

After posting a picture on a random rock in the Turkish highlands on Instagram, Salah has transformed the spot into a tourist attraction, with droves of fans making the pilgrimage. — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2026

So when word dropped on September 1st that the nearly 200-year-old museum was closing at the end of the month, thousands of families began a wistful pilgrimage, to make one final visit. — Andrew Stelzer, NPR, 3 Oct. 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