Definition

1. Noun:
   • (Military) A sudden attack made from a defensive position: A "sortie" is a military action where troops who are surrounded or under siege launch a sudden, aggressive attack outward from their position.
   • (Aviation) An operational flight by a single military aircraft: In aviation, a "sortie" refers to one mission or combat flight undertaken by a single aircraft, especially in the context of a specific military operation.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Military Attack):

  • The garrison made a daring sortie to break the enemy's siege lines.
  • The general planned a night sortie to disrupt the opposing forces.

• Noun (Aviation Mission):

  • The pilot flew three successful sorties over enemy territory.
  • Each combat sortie is meticulously planned and logged.

Advanced Usage

• "To make a sortie": This is the standard phrase for describing the action of launching a sortie.
  • The trapped soldiers decided to make a sortie at dawn.
• "Fly a sortie": This phrase is specifically used for aviation missions.
  • The squadron was ordered to fly a sortie to gather reconnaissance data.

Variants and Related Words

• Sortie (verb): Less commonly used as a verb meaning to carry out a sortie.
  • The cavalry sortied from the fort.
• Sortie rate (noun): A military term referring to the number of sorties an aircraft or unit can fly within a given period.

Synonyms

• Sally (noun): A sudden charge out of a besieged place against an enemy; very close in meaning to the military sense of "sortie."
  • The defenders made a brave sally from the castle walls.
• Mission (noun): A general term for a specific task or operation, often used interchangeably with the aviation sense of "sortie."
  • The bomber's mission was to destroy the bridge.
• Raid (noun): A sudden surprise attack, which shares the element of a sudden, aggressive action.
  • The commandos conducted a raid on the enemy camp.

Related Phrases

• "On a sortie": Describes the state of being engaged in a sortie.
  • The fighter jets are currently on a sortie.
• "Abort a sortie": To cancel or terminate a sortie before it is completed.
  • Due to mechanical issues, the pilot had to abort the sortie.

Noun

1. (military) an operational flight by a single aircraft (as in a military operation)
2. a military action in which besieged troops burst forth from their position