voyage

American  

[voi-ij] / ˈvɔɪ ɪdʒ /

noun

1. a course of travel or passage, especially a long journey by water to a distant place.

   Synonyms:

   cruise

2. a passage through air or space, as a flight in an airplane or space vehicle.

3. a journey or expedition from one place to another by land.

4. Often voyages. journeys or travels as the subject of a written account, or the account itself.

   the voyages of Marco Polo.

5. Obsolete. an enterprise or undertaking.

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verb (used without object)

voyaged, voyaging

1. to make or take a voyage; travel; journey.

verb (used with object)

voyaged, voyaging

1. to traverse by a voyage.

   to voyage the seven seas.

voyage British  

/ ˈvɔɪɪdʒ /

noun

1. a journey, travel, or passage, esp one to a distant land or by sea or air

2. obsolete an ambitious project

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verb

1. to travel over or traverse (something)

   we will voyage to Africa

voyage Idioms  

1. see maiden voyage.

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Related Words

See trip ¹.

Other Word Forms

• outvoyage verb (used with object)
• revoyage noun
• unvoyaging adjective
• voyager noun

Etymology

Origin of voyage

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English ve(i)age, viage, voyage, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin viāticum “travel-money”; see viaticum

Explanation

If someone tells you "bon voyage!" they mean have a good trip. Voyage means trip in French but in English, we use it to mean a long journey. Though voyage is usually used literally to mean a long and exciting journey or a trip that involves sailing such as a cruise, it can be used figuratively as well. Researching your family tree might become a voyage of self-discovery, taking you places you don't expect and teaching you more about yourself than you thought possible.

Example Sentences

It’s a Homeric voyage, if Homer were familiar with the complicated system of roadways and toll stations that is the New Jersey Turnpike.

From Salon • Apr. 18, 2026

The head of an international shipowners association, Jakob Larsen at Bimco, went a step further by urging caution to those considering making the voyage on the main shipping lanes through the strait.

From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026

As the Artemis II mission prepared to return to Earth, Koch said there wasn’t anything about the voyage she wouldn’t miss.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

I had the chance to speak to the crew in space as their voyage was nearing its end.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

“You will have a long voyage ahead!” she intoned, waving her hands over the globe.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood