pilgrimage

[ pil-gruh-mij ]

noun

1. a journey, especially a long one, made to some sacred place as an act of religious devotion:

   a pilgrimage to Lourdes.

2. Islam.
   1. the Pilgrimage, hajj.
   2. ʿumrah.
3. any long journey, especially one undertaken as a quest or for a votive purpose, as to pay homage:

   a pilgrimage to the grave of Shakespeare.

   Synonyms: tour, excursion

verb (used without object)

, pil·grim·aged, pil·grim·ag·ing.

1. to make a pilgrimage.

pilgrimage

/ ˈpɪlɡrɪmɪdʒ /

noun

1. a journey to a shrine or other sacred place
2. a journey or long search made for exalted or sentimental reasons

verb

1. intr to make a pilgrimage

Word History and Origins

Origin of pilgrimage¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English pilegrimage ( pilgrim, -age ); replacing earlier pelrimage, alteration of Old French pelerinage

Synonym Study

See trip ¹.

Example Sentences

In “A Real Pain,” cousins David and Benji — close since childhood but not quite brotherly — take a pilgrimage to Poland to see their late grandmother’s former home.

From Los Angeles Times

I put on my old Army trench coat and boots and, as I have on many days, and especially in these monumental moments, I made my pilgrimage to Trump Tower in downtown Chicago.

From Salon

Even as the Democrat-controlled US Senate was preparing to hold Trump’s impeachment trial, McCarthy’s Palm Beach pilgrimage illustrated that one of the most powerful Republicans in Congress still viewed the former president as a king-maker.

From BBC

Though Oshu, a three-hour train ride from Tokyo, isn’t exactly drawing hordes, city officials like Toriumi still field continuous email inquiries from foreign and Japanese fans alike looking to make an Ohtani pilgrimage.

From Los Angeles Times

They made their pilgrimage with intention, arriving in the city to attend an event held by their favorite former reality TV star.

From Salon

Related Words

• crusade
• excursion
• expedition
• tour
• trip