• Dictionaries home
  • American English
  • Collocations
  • German-English
  • Grammar home
  • Practical English Usage
  • Learn & Practise Grammar (Beta)
  • Word Lists home
  • My Word Lists
  • Recent additions
  • Resources home
  • Text Checker

Definition of field trip noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

  • We went on a geology field trip.
  • Delegates at the conference were taken on field trips to see the devastation.

Take your English to the next level

The Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus explains the difference between groups of similar words. Try it for free as part of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app

field trip meaning in simple words

Nearby words

Go to the homepage

Definition of 'field trip'

Field trip in american english, field trip in british english, examples of 'field trip' in a sentence field trip, trends of field trip.

View usage over: Since Exist Last 10 years Last 50 years Last 100 years Last 300 years

Browse alphabetically field trip

  • field theory
  • field trial
  • field winding
  • field woundwort
  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'F'

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Score: 0 / 5

Image

Wordle Helper

Tile

Scrabble Tools

Image

  • TheFreeDictionary
  • Word / Article
  • Starts with
  • Free toolbar & extensions
  • Word of the Day
  • Free content

field′ trip`

  • established
  • establisher
  • on the whole
  • out of work
  • pleasure trip
  • fielder's choice
  • field-grade officer
  • field-holler
  • fielding average
  • Fielding Henry
  • field-ion microscope
  • field-pea plant
  • Fields Dorothy
  • Fields W.C.
  • field-sequential color television
  • field-sequential color television system
  • field-sequential color TV
  • field-sequential color TV system
  • field-strip
  • field-to-wheel
  • fieldworker
  • fieri facias
  • Fierstein Harvey
  • fiery cross
  • Fields Per Second
  • Fields Prize
  • fields questions
  • Fields Spring State Park
  • Fields, Annie Adams
  • Fields, Dame Gracie
  • Fields, Dorothy
  • Fields, James Thomas
  • Fields, Lew
  • Fields, Particles and Waves
  • Fields, W. C.
  • Fields, W.C.
  • Fields-MITACS Industrial Problem-Solving Workshop
  • fieldstripped
  • fieldstripping
  • fieldstrips
  • Fieldwork Manager
  • fieldworkers
  • Fiend Folio
  • Facebook Share

Synonyms of field trip

  • as in excursion
  • To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In

Thesaurus Definition of field trip

Synonyms & Similar Words

Thesaurus Entries Near field trip

fields of honor

field trips

Cite this Entry

“Field trip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/field%20trip. Accessed 22 Mar. 2024.

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

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries.  Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the day.

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

8 grammar terms you used to know, but forgot, homophones, homographs, and homonyms, commonly misspelled words, how to use em dashes (—), en dashes (–) , and hyphens (-), absent letters that are heard anyway, popular in wordplay, 12 words for signs of spring, 9 superb owl words, 'gaslighting,' 'woke,' 'democracy,' and other top lookups, 10 words for lesser-known games and sports, your favorite band is in the dictionary, games & quizzes.

Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

We sent you SMS, for complete subscription please reply.

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

Wonderopolis

Wonder of the Day #2408

Why are Field Trips Called Field Trips?

Wonderopolis

LANGUAGE ARTS — Languages

Have You Ever Wondered...

  • Why are field trips called field trips?
  • What are the benefits of field trips?
  • Why should family members go on field trips?
  • Education ,
  • Field Trip ,
  • Grandparent ,
  • Foster Parent ,
  • Classmate ,
  • Ecosystem ,
  • Chaperone ,

Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Madie . Madie Wonders , “ Why do they call field trips field trips? ” Thanks for WONDERing with us, Madie !

Have you ever gone on a field trip? Field trip day is often the most exciting day of school! Family members volunteer to go along, and they--along with all the kids--pack a lunch and load up the bus for the day ahead. Field trips are both fun and educational . But have you ever WONDERed where the name came from? What puts the FIELD in field trips?

When you think of the word “field,” many things might come to mind. Do you picture farmland? An open prairie ? How about a baseball diamond or soccer field? Adults might even think of the field (area of interest) they work in. History buffs might think of famous battlefields . A scientist’s mind might go to magnetic fields .

As you can see, the word “field” has many definitions. But when people talk about field trips, they’re using a less common meaning of the word “field.” In this case, “field” describes work done outside of an office or classroom. That makes sense if you think about what a field trip is. It’s an outing that gives you the chance to learn something new outside of school!

The best field trips teach you a lot while you’re having fun. A trip to the zoo can lead kids to learn about new animals. Going to a national monument gives you the chance to experience history firsthand. Even a field trip to a local park can be educational . Kids can learn about new plants and ecosystems .

The value of field trips can’t be overstated . Any student or teacher will tell you field trips are great. And there’s plenty of research to support that, too! Studies on field trips show they have many benefits . Field trips can help students become more interested in new topics. They can also make kids feel more positive about what they learn. Unsurprisingly, studies also found that students remember field trips for a long time!

It’s no wonder that field trips are unforgettable. There’s nothing like setting out on an adventure with your teachers and classmates. Often, kids even get to bring family members along for the ride.

One of the best things about field trips is that they give families the chance to learn together. Parents , grandparents, foster parents , and other adults who chaperone field trips really add to the experience . They get the chance to know their child’s teacher and classmates better. Best of all, adult chaperones can join in the fun and learning right alongside the students!

What kind of field trip would you like to go on? Do you want to tour a local museum? How about a trip to a cave or factory ? You can learn something new from just about any location!

Common Core , Next Generation Science Standards , and National Council for the Social Studies ."> Standards : CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.W.2, CCRA.W.7, CCRA.W.8, CCRA.W.9, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.L.1, CCRA.L.2, CCRA.R.4, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.W.1, CCRA.SL.1

Wonder What's Next?

Learn to appreciate differences with tomorrow's Wonder of the Day!

Bring an adult friend or family member along to help with any of these activities:

  • Where would you like to go on your next field trip? Identify a location, then write a letter persuading your teacher to take a field trip there. Include details that will convince them. What makes this place interesting? What will you learn? How does it relate to what you’re doing in school?
  • Take a virtual field trip! With the help of a friend or family member, identify a topic you want to learn more about. Then, learn more about it on Wonderopolis or Kiddle . Search for related pictures on Safe Search ! Write a paragraph to share what you learned.
  • You don’t have to wait for school to take a field trip! Ask an adult friend or family member to take you on an educational trip. Watch birds in your local park. Visit the zoo. Go to the post office or a nearby art museum. Ask questions and talk with your friend or family member about what you learned!

Wonder Sources

  • https://naaee.org/eepro/research/library/student-self-reported-learning-outcomes (accessed 24 July 2014)
  • https://www.informalscience.org/news-views/field-trips-are-valuable-learning-experiences (accessed 24 July 2014)
  • https://www.parentscanada.com/school/the-advantages-school-field-trips-can-offer-kids-and-parents (accessed 24 July 2014)
  • https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/field (accessed 24 July 2014)

Did you get it?

Wonder contributors.

We’d like to thank:

Zackery , Nathan , donna and Ms.Wahlin's for contributing questions about today’s Wonder topic!

Keep WONDERing with us!

Wonder Words

  • educational

Wonderopolis

Thanks, cncolover!

Wonderopolis

We're glad you liked this Wonder, Adelaide! Keep WONDERing with us!

Wonderopolis

That's a great question for a Wonder Journey, Daniel! Let us know what you find out. 

Wonderopolis

That's WONDERful, jack! 

Wonderopolis

We hope you enjoyed that play, chase! What other field trips have you gone on?

Wonderopolis

Thanks for stopping by, mason!

Wonderopolis

Have you ever gone on a field trip wonderopolis peeps???????

We've gone on many field trips! They're the best. 

We are undergoing some spring clearing site maintenance and need to temporarily disable the commenting feature. Thanks for your patience.

Related Wonders for You to Explore

Wonderopolis

Who Was Elie Wiesel?

Wonderopolis

Who Was Paul Laurence Dunbar?

Wonderopolis

When Do You Use a Thesaurus?

Wonderopolis

Does “I” Always Come Before “E”?

Wonderopolis

What Is a Doppelgänger?

Drag a word to its definition

Select a Wonder Word:

Match its definition:

Congratulations!

You’ve matched all of the definitions correctly.

Share results

Question 1 of 3

Which of these is NOT a benefit of field trips?

  • a Higher interest in a new topic Not Quite!
  • b More positive feelings toward learning Not Quite!
  • c Family members can come along and learn together Not Quite!
  • d Students get to go wherever they want Correct!

Question 2 of 3

When someone talks about field trips, the word “field” means...

  • a work done outside of an office or classroom. Correct!
  • b an open prairie. Not Quite!
  • c an area of interest. Not Quite!
  • d a place to play sports. Not Quite!

Question 3 of 3

This Wonder was mostly about...

  • a where in the US you can take the best field trips. Not Quite!
  • b why schools often choose not to take field trips. Not Quite!
  • c why field trips are called field trips and how they can benefit learning. Correct!
  • d how to persuade a family member to go on your next field trip. Not Quite!

Quiz Results

Share Results

Spread the joy of wonder, get your wonder daily.

Subscribe to Wonderopolis and receive the Wonder of the Day® via email or SMS

Join the Buzz

Don’t miss our special deals, gifts and promotions. Be the first to know!

Share with the World

Tell everybody about Wonderopolis and its wonders.

Share Wonderopolis

Wonderopolis widget.

Interested in sharing Wonderopolis® every day? Want to add a little wonder to your website? Help spread the wonder of families learning together.

You Got It!

Wonderopolis

http://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-are-field-trips-called-field-trips

© National Center for Families Learning (NCFL)

Cambridge Dictionary

  • Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Examples of field trip

{{randomImageQuizHook.quizId}}

Word of the Day

ventriloquist's dummy

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

a toy in the shape of a small person that ventriloquists operate, so that it seems to be alive

Paying attention and listening intently: talking about concentration

Paying attention and listening intently: talking about concentration

field trip meaning in simple words

Learn more with +Plus

  • Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}}
  • Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English
  • Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus
  • Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation
  • English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English
  • English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English
  • English–Dutch Dutch–English
  • English–French French–English
  • English–German German–English
  • English–Indonesian Indonesian–English
  • English–Italian Italian–English
  • English–Japanese Japanese–English
  • English–Norwegian Norwegian–English
  • English–Polish Polish–English
  • English–Portuguese Portuguese–English
  • English–Spanish Spanish–English
  • English–Swedish Swedish–English
  • Dictionary +Plus Word Lists

{{message}}

There was a problem sending your report.

Words and phrases

Personal account.

  • Access or purchase personal subscriptions
  • Get our newsletter
  • Save searches
  • Set display preferences

Institutional access

Sign in with library card

Sign in with username / password

Recommend to your librarian

Institutional account management

Sign in as administrator on Oxford Academic

field trip noun

  • Hide all quotations

What does the noun field trip mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun field trip . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

How common is the noun field trip ?

Where does the noun field trip come from.

Earliest known use

The earliest known use of the noun field trip is in the 1880s.

OED's earliest evidence for field trip is from 1885, in Annual Rep. Board Regents Smithsonian Inst. 1883 .

field trip is formed within English, by compounding.

Etymons: field n. 1 , trip n. 1

Nearby entries

  • field-theoretical, adj. 1934–
  • field theorist, n. 1934–
  • field theory, n. 1922–
  • field tile, n. 1856–
  • field titling, n. 1828–
  • field tortoise, n. 1694–
  • field train, n. 1692–
  • field training, n. 1836–
  • field trash, n. 1791–
  • field trial, n. 1817–
  • field trip, n. 1885–
  • field violet, n. 1597–
  • field vole, n. 1828–
  • fieldwalking, n. 1853–
  • fieldward, n., adv., & adj. c1380–
  • fieldwards, n. & adv. 1656–
  • field-ware, n. 1546–1858
  • field-watch, n. 1797–
  • fieldweed, n. 1828–
  • field whore, n. 1846–
  • field wife, n. ?a1500–1617

Thank you for visiting Oxford English Dictionary

To continue reading, please sign in below or purchase a subscription. After purchasing, please sign in below to access the content.

Meaning & use

Entry history for field trip, n..

Originally published as part of the entry for field, n.¹

field, n.¹ was revised in June 2011.

oed.com is a living text, updated every three months. Modifications may include:

  • further revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
  • new senses, phrases, and quotations.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1895)

  • Find out more

OED Second Edition (1989)

  • View field, n. in OED Second Edition

Please submit your feedback for field trip, n.

Please include your email address if you are happy to be contacted about your feedback. OUP will not use this email address for any other purpose.

Citation details

Factsheet for field trip, n., browse entry.

IMAGES

  1. Field Trip Definition

    field trip meaning in simple words

  2. We're Going on a Field Trip... Ideas to help you plan, organize, and

    field trip meaning in simple words

  3. These homeschool field trip ideas are universal, meaning that

    field trip meaning in simple words

  4. Ways Field Trips Strengthen Your Child’s Education

    field trip meaning in simple words

  5. Correct spelling for field trip [Infographic]

    field trip meaning in simple words

  6. Field trip and excursion

    field trip meaning in simple words

VIDEO

  1. How every kid be like on a field trip 💀

  2. 'Beginners' Meaning and Pronunciation

  3. Field Meaning In Marathi /Field mane ki

  4. Simple Word meaning #youtubeshorts #shortfeed #like #dailyuseenglish

  5. Field Trip Grade 3 to 8

COMMENTS

  1. Field trip Definition & Meaning

    field trip: [noun] a visit (as to a factory, farm, or museum) made (as by students and a teacher) for purposes of firsthand observation.

  2. FIELD TRIP

    FIELD TRIP meaning: 1. a visit made by students to study something away from their school or college: 2. a visit made…. Learn more.

  3. FIELD TRIP

    FIELD TRIP definition: 1. a visit made by students to study something away from their school or college: 2. a visit made…. Learn more.

  4. Field trip

    field trip: 1 n a group excursion (to a museum or the woods or some historic place) for firsthand examination Type of: excursion , expedition , jaunt , junket , outing , pleasure trip , sashay a journey taken for pleasure

  5. FIELD TRIP definition and meaning

    An expedition, as by a group of students or research workers, to study something at first hand.... Click for English pronunciations, examples sentences, video.

  6. FIELD TRIP Definition & Usage Examples

    Field trip definition: . See examples of FIELD TRIP used in a sentence.

  7. field trip noun

    Definition of field trip noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

  8. FIELD TRIP definition in American English

    FIELD TRIP definition: an expedition , as by a group of students or research workers , to study something at... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples in American English ... Word forms: field trips plural. A field trip is an trip made by students and a teacher to see or study something, for example a museum, a factory, or a ...

  9. Field trip Definition & Meaning

    Field trip definition, a trip by students to gain firsthand knowledge away from the classroom, as to a museum, factory, geological area, or environment of certain plants and animals. See more.

  10. Field trip

    Define field trip. field trip synonyms, field trip pronunciation, field trip translation, English dictionary definition of field trip. n. A group excursion for the purpose of firsthand observation, as to a museum, the woods, or a historic place.

  11. Field Trip Definition & Meaning

    Field Trip definition: A group excursion for the purpose of firsthand observation, as to a museum, the woods, or a historic place.

  12. Field trip Definition & Meaning

    field trip noun. plural field trips. Britannica Dictionary definition of FIELD TRIP. [count] : a visit to a place (such as a museum or zoo) that is made by students to learn about something. We took a class field trip to the power plant. We went on a field trip. FIELD TRIP meaning: a visit to a place (such as a museum or zoo) that is made by ...

  13. Fieldtrip

    field′ trip`. n. 1. a school trip to gain firsthand knowledge away from the classroom. 2. a trip by a researcher to gather data firsthand, as to a geological, archaeological, or other site. [1955-60]

  14. field trip

    field trip - WordReference English dictionary, questions, discussion and forums. All Free.

  15. FIELD TRIP Synonyms: 11 Similar Words

    Synonyms for FIELD TRIP: excursion, visit, stay, outing, sojourn, tarry, layover, stopover, homestay, sleepover. Games & Quizzes; Games & Quizzes; Word of the Day; Grammar; Wordplay; Word Finder ... Definition of field trip. as in excursion. a trip to a place (such as a museum or zoo) ...

  16. FIELD TRIP Definition & Usage Examples

    Field trip definition: . See examples of FIELD TRIP used in a sentence.

  17. field trip

    field trip. From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Related topics: Education ˈfield trip noun [ countable] an occasion when students go somewhere to learn about a particular subject, especially one connected with nature or science a geography field trip Examples from the Corpus field trip • They are completely without inhibition, a ...

  18. Why are Field Trips Called Field Trips?

    As you can see, the word "field" has many definitions. But when people talk about field trips, they're using a less common meaning of the word "field." In this case, "field" describes work done outside of an office or classroom. That makes sense if you think about what a field trip is.

  19. FIELD TRIP in Thesaurus: 100+ Synonyms & Antonyms for FIELD TRIP

    Most related words/phrases with sentence examples define Field trip meaning and usage. Thesaurus for Field trip. Related terms for field trip- synonyms, antonyms and sentences with field trip. Lists. synonyms. antonyms. definitions. sentences. thesaurus. Parts of speech. nouns. Synonyms Similar meaning. View all. excursion. outing. trip. school ...

  20. Field Trip synonyms

    Synonyms for Field Trip (other words and phrases for Field Trip). Synonyms for Field trip. 162 other terms for field trip- words and phrases with similar meaning. Lists. synonyms. antonyms. definitions. sentences. thesaurus. words. phrases. Parts of speech. nouns. Tags. learning. trip. excursion. suggest new.

  21. field trip

    field trip in Education topic. From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English ˈfield trip noun [ countable] an occasion when students go somewhere to learn about a particular subject, especially one connected with nature or science a geography field trip Examples from the Corpus field trip • They are completely without inhibition, a bus ...

  22. FIELD TRIP in a sentence

    Examples of FIELD TRIP in a sentence, how to use it. 93 examples: We performed two censuses per monthly field trip to estimate hummingbird…

  23. field trip, n. meanings, etymology and more

    What does the noun field trip mean? There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun field trip. See 'Meaning & use' for definition, usage, and quotation evidence. See meaning & use. How common is the noun field trip? About 1 occurrence per million words in modern written English . 1880: 0.0025: 1890: 0.0083: 1900: 0.041: 1910: 0.13: 1920: ...