sortie

noun

sor·​tie ˈsȯr-tē 

sȯr-ˈtē

1

: a sudden issuing of troops from a defensive position against the enemy

2

: one mission or attack by a single plane

3

a

: foray, raid

b

: excursion, expedition

diving sorties

sortie intransitive verb

sortied; sortieing

Synonyms

• excursion
• jaunt
• junket
• outing
• ramble
• sally
• sashay
• spin

Examples of sortie in a Sentence

an occasional sortie to the city to rummage through some of its numerous used-book stores

Recent Examples on the Web

In a set of sorties under cover of darkness, and likely over hostile territories including Syria and Iraq, dozens of Israeli warplanes flew thousands of kilometers. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2024

In French service, the speedy jets strictly fly air-to-air sorties with their pulse-Doppler RDY radars and MICA missiles. —David Axe, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024

Within a couple of weeks of the first spraying sorties, Palo Alto police heard what sounded like gunshots as the helicopters passed overhead. —Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2024

Fiat 500e: Tiny and inimitably Italian, this electric city car is Stellantis’ second sortie into modernizing and expanding the appeal of its many brands. —Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 13 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French, from sortir to go out, leave

First Known Use

1778, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

sortie

noun

sor·​tie ˈsȯrt-ē 

sȯr-ˈtē

: a sudden rushing out of troops from a position of defense against the enemy : sally

sortie verb