foray

[fawr-ey, for-ey]

noun

1. a quick raid, usually for the purpose of taking plunder.

   Vikings made a foray on the port.

   Synonyms: sortie, incursion, invasion, assault, attack

2. a quick, sudden attack.

   The defenders made a foray outside the walls.

3. an initial venture.

   a successful foray into politics.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a raid; pillage; maraud.

2. to invade or make one's way, as for profit or adventure.

   foreign industries foraying into U.S. markets.

verb (used with object)

1. to ravage in search of plunder; pillage.

foray

/ ˈfɒreɪ /

noun

1. a short raid or incursion

2. a first attempt or new undertaking

verb

1. to raid or ravage (a town, district, etc)

Other Word Forms

• forayer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of foray¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English forraien, apparently by back formation from forrayour, forreour, forrier, from Old French forrier, fourrier, equivalent to fo(u)rr(er), derivative of fuerre “provender” ( forage ) + -ier -ier ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of foray¹

C14: from forrayen to pillage, from Old French forreier , from forrier forager, from fuerre fodder; see _forage

Example Sentences

To briefly summarize Lilla’s most recent foray into our current national predicament, he argues emphatically that Trumpism is not conservatism, and is also not fascism.

Read more on Salon

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was keen to utilize the foray into Argentinian politics and finances to score some political points with Democratic opponents back in the U.S.

Read more on MarketWatch

Other companies, such as privately held Aethon Energy Management and a U.S. unit of Japan’s Mitsui, have also been making a foray in the region.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

London would mark the first foray into Europe for Waymo, already present in a growing number of US cities.

Read more on Barron's

Her forays into social commentary are more problematic.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• inroad 
• invasion 
• raid