pilgrimage

1 of 2

noun

pil·​grim·​age ˈpil-grə-mij How to pronounce pilgrimage (audio)
1
: a journey of a pilgrim
especially : one to a shrine or a sacred place
2
: the course of life on earth

pilgrimage

2 of 2

verb

pilgrimaged; pilgrimaging

intransitive verb

: to go on a pilgrimage

Examples of pilgrimage in a Sentence

Noun He made a pilgrimage to Mecca. The family went on a pilgrimage to historical battlefields. The tradition of pilgrimage is important in Islam. The poet's grave site has become a place of pilgrimage. Verb tourists pilgrimaging to all of the traditional destinations across Europe
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
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. Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024 Every March, the Garifuna make a pilgrimage from mainland St. Vincent to Baliceaux. Seth Berry, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Oct. 2024
Verb
The team suggests these were linked with ceremonial pathways and pilgrimage routes. Byrodrigo Pérez Ortega, science.org, 23 Sep. 2024 Indiana hasn’t played in the Rose Bowl since its futile attempt to stop USC running back O.J. Simpson on Jan. 1, 1968, making the team’s return this week to face UCLA something of a now-or-never pilgrimage for those who played in that game. Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pilgrimage 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pilgrimage was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near pilgrimage

Cite this Entry

“Pilgrimage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pilgrimage. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

pilgrimage

noun
pil·​grim·​age
ˈpil-grə-mij
: a journey of a pilgrim
pilgrimage verb

More from Merriam-Webster on pilgrimage

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!