What does pilgrimaging mean?
Pilgrimaging means travelling as a pilgrim, usually to a place connected with a person's faith or religious tradition. The word combines the idea of a journey with the identity of the traveller: those who pilgrimaging undertake a pilgrimage are travelling for religious purposes, often toward a shrine, church, or other sacred destination. It may also describe a pilgrimage undertaken for spiritual reasons rather than as part of an organised religion. The word occurs in British and American English but is less frequent in everyday conversation than the expressions “going on a pilgrimage” and “making a pilgrimage.” It is especially suited to narrative, literary, journalistic, and historical writing, where the act of travelling toward a sacred place is being described directly. Although usually religious, the term can occasionally be used more broadly when a journey has the character of a pilgrimage.
verbTo travel as a pilgrim, especially to a place regarded as sacred or important to one's faith. It can also mean to undertake a pilgrimage to such a place.
- To travel as a pilgrim or make a pilgrimage to a sacred or otherwise significant place.
"Each spring, the pilgrims continued pilgrimaging through the mountains toward the ancient shrine."
"The group spent the summer pilgrimaging along the old pilgrimage route."
"Her account of pilgrimaging in northern Spain combines travel writing with reflections on faith."
The word connects modern journeys of faith with the Latin peregrinus, a term that originally meant “foreigner” or “traveller from abroad.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pilgrimaging come from?
The word belongs to a family derived from Latin peregrinus, meaning “foreign” or “from abroad,” through Old French pelegrin and Middle English pilgrim. “Pilgrimage” developed as a related noun denoting a religious journey, while “pilgrimaging” expresses the corresponding action. The Latin root also survives in English words such as peregrine, peregrinate, and peregrination, all connected with wandering or travelling.
Related word forms
How pilgrimaging is actually used
This form is much less common than “going on a pilgrimage” or “making a pilgrimage.” It is especially natural in literary, journalistic, and historical contexts.
Easily confused with pilgrimaging
A pilgrimage is the journey itself, while pilgrimaging means undertaking that journey or travelling as a pilgrim.