sortie

[ sawr-tee ]

noun

1. a rapid movement of troops from a besieged place to attack the besiegers.
2. a body of troops involved in such a movement.
3. the flying of an airplane on a combat mission.

verb (used without object)

, sor·tied, sor·tie·ing.

1. to go on a sortie; sally forth.

sortie

/ ˈsɔːtɪ /

noun

1. 1. (of troops, etc) the act of emerging from a contained or besieged position
   2. the troops doing this
2. an operational flight made by one aircraft
3. a short or relatively short return trip

verb

1. intr to make a sortie

Word History and Origins

Origin of sortie¹

1680–90; < French, noun use of feminine past participle of sortir to go out

Word History and Origins

Origin of sortie¹

C17: from French: a going out, from sortir to go out

Example Sentences

"This will make military logistics, command and control, and air support harder to deliver, and even if Russian aircraft pull back further from Ukraine’s frontiers to avoid the missile threat they will still suffer an increase in the time and costs per sortie to the front line."

From BBC

Palestinian militants clashed with Israeli troops in at least two areas inside the Gaza Strip, the latest of several small-scale incursions, Hamas-affiliated media reported, though the Israeli military did not immediately confirm the sortie.

From Reuters

Palestinian militants clashed with Israeli troops in at least two areas inside the Gaza Strip, the latest of several small-scale incursions, Hamas-affiliated media reported, though the Israeli military did not immediately confirm the sortie.

From Reuters

Pro-Russian military bloggers claimed Wednesday that Ukrainian units had made a significant sortie across the Dnipro River into the Russian-held parts of the key city of Kherson, a first breach in a part of the longstanding line dividing the two armies.

From Washington Times

“We have the capability to sortie at any time and anywhere, be it at day, at night, or before dawn,” Wei Xiaogang, an instructor with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force bomber group told CCTV.

From Washington Times

Related Words

• raid