sortie

Everyday

1. A sortie is a sudden attack made by soldiers rushing out from a place that is surrounded by enemies. tree →
2. A sortie is also one flight by a military aircraft on a mission. tree →
3. (informal, humorous) A sortie can mean a short trip out somewhere, like a sortie to the shops. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons, defenders of a castle under siege made sorties to attack the besiegers. In news and stories about the Battle of Britain or air forces, pilots flew many sorties a day. In everyday humorous talk, a sortie is a quick outing. The word is French for "going out" (sortie = exit in French).

Examples

• The defenders made a sortie from the castle at night. tree →
• The Spitfire pilots flew three sorties that day. tree →
• Each sortie lasted about an hour. tree →
• Mum made a quick sortie to the corner shop for milk. tree →
• The knights' sortie surprised the enemy camp. tree →
• (French) In France, "Sortie" on a sign means "Exit". tree →
• The plane returned safely from its sortie. tree →

Note

Say "SOR-tee". Countable: sorties. It comes from French "sortir", to go out; in French, "sortie" on signs means exit — a false friend for English speakers who know only the military sense.