noun

excursion

ik-SKUR-zhun/ɪkˈskɜːrʒn/

A short journey away from one's usual location.

We take a short excursion to the lake after breakfast.

Two older Latina women enjoy a short outing to a lakeside picnic spot, carrying small day bags and pausing together to admire the water.

Etymology

exLatinout

+cursLatinto run

+ionLatinaction noun ending

Literally a “running out,” an excursion could be a military sally or expedition. That outward movement developed into the journey sense used for a short pleasure trip.

In context

Free Documentary - Nature34:25

after his short excursion to the marmot colony the male deer heads back to the lower areas of the park

Yosemite - America's Most Spectacular National Park | Free Documentary Nature

More examples

The cruise offers an excursion to a nearby island.
Our weekend excursions rarely take us far from home.
We packed sandwiches for an afternoon excursion into the hills.

Forms

excursion · excursions

Similar words

trip: Trip covers journeys of any length or purpose.
outing: Outing emphasizes a recreational or social activity away from home.