Odyssey

American  

[od-uh-see] / ˈɒd ə si /

noun

PLURAL

Odysseys

1. (italics) an epic poem attributed to Homer, describing Odysseus's adventures in his ten-year attempt to return home to Ithaca after the Trojan War.

2. (often lowercase) a long series of wanderings or adventures, especially when filled with notable experiences, hardships, etc.

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Odyssey British  

/ ˌɒdɪˈsiːən, ˈɒdɪsɪ /

noun

1. a Greek epic poem, attributed to Homer, describing the ten-year homeward wanderings of Odysseus after the fall of Troy

2. (often not capital) any long eventful journey

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Other Word Forms

• Odyssean adjective

Compare meaning

How does odyssey compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Iliad vs. Odyssey

Example Sentences

Thanks to the quieter design, Nolan’s “The Odyssey” will become the first theatrical movie shot entirely on Imax film cameras, something he couldn’t achieve on “Oppenheimer” due to sound issues.

From Los Angeles Times

Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” remains one of cinema’s most audacious visions because Kubrick embraced technology.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Why didn’t you follow through on giving Anna a car???” one TikToker among thousands commented on a Honda video promoting its Odyssey minivan.

From The Wall Street Journal

According to Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus placed the very same type of brushwood layer in a ship that he had built.

From Literature

“Many characters in ‘Mrs. Dalloway,’ like many in ‘Ulysses,’ echo the far more powerful and effective characters in the ‘Odyssey,’ ” Mr. Mendelson writes.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• adventure
• excursion
• expedition
• exploration
• pilgrimage
• quest
• sojourn
• trek