expeditionary
14
7.9
- adjective
- /ˌɛkspɪˈdɪʃənˌɛri/
- Specialized
- The military established an expeditionary force to conduct operations in hostile territories.
- expeditionary forces
Examples
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The British Expeditionary Force clashes with the German army at Mons, but the British are heavily outnumbered and soon join the French in retreat.
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Got command of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
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We know they have an expeditionary force heading south.
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At least France was honest about it and named its expeditionary forces the French Foreign Legion.
Blog text (6) -
Rice's idea of creating a more expeditionary Foreign Service has met a similar fate.
Academic text (2009) -
Nor does fighting Islamic terrorism, if we're not doing so by expeditionary warfare.
Blog text (26) -
Sign an Armistice paper or risk having its entire Expeditionary core encircled and cut off.
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Established in 1987, FAST platoons provide a limited-duration, expeditionary security force to protect vital naval and national assets.
Blog text (11) -
Desertion, disease, and natural depletion reduced the numbers available in the expeditionary battalions, which were not reinforced or replaced from Spain.
Academic text (1990) -
NATO requires modest expeditionary capabilities, but Europe does not have to replicate America's military prowess.
Academic text (2003)
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
expeditionary = expedition (transparent) = expedition + ary
The adjective is a straightforward formation from the noun 'expedition' with the productive suffix '-ary' meaning 'relating to' or 'pertaining to'.
Etymology
The word expeditionary comes from expedition, which means a planned 'trip' or 'mission' and has the idea of being 'sent out' on a journey. So an expeditionary force is a military group meant to be sent on missions abroad, often far from home.