Sail vs. Voyage — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 27, 2023
"Sail" primarily refers to traveling by water or the piece of fabric used in boats, while "voyage" denotes a long journey, especially by sea or space. Both relate to travel, but "voyage" emphasizes duration and distance.
Difference Between Sail and Voyage
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Both words touch upon the concept of travel, especially on water. "Sail" can be both a verb, indicating the act of traveling, and a noun, referring to the fabric that catches wind on boats. "Voyage," on the other hand, is a journey over a considerable distance.
As a verb, "sail" means to travel by water, using sails or not. It doesn't necessarily imply a long journey. As a noun, "sail" denotes the fabric piece on boats that catches wind. You can sail for an hour, a day, or even minutes.
This term typically refers to a long journey, especially by sea or space. It emphasizes the duration and often the adventure or challenge of the journey. A voyage might take days, months, or even years.
While "sail" can be used for short or recreational travels on water, "voyage" leans towards longer, more significant journeys. If someone is going for a brief boat ride around a lake, they're sailing, not voyaging.
"Sail" can denote both the act of traveling on water and the apparatus facilitating such travel. "Voyage" is a longer journey, often with greater implications of distance and challenge.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Travel by water or fabric on boats.
A long journey, especially by sea or space.
Part of Speech
Both noun (fabric) and verb (action).
Noun.
Duration
Can be short or long.
Typically long.
Context
Recreational, professional, or daily activities.
More formal, emphasizes adventure/challenge.
Common Associations
Boat, wind, fabric.
Exploration, sea travel, space journey.
Compare with Definitions
Sail
A piece of fabric extended on a boat or ship to catch the wind.
The sail billowed as the wind picked up.
Voyage
A long journey involving travel by sea or in space.
The voyage across the Atlantic took several weeks.
Sail
To navigate or travel on water.
They plan to sail around the world.
Voyage
An account or record of a journey.
He wrote a book about his voyage to Antarctica.
Sail
To move smoothly or effortlessly.
He sailed through the test without any errors.
Voyage
A course or journey of personal development or discovery.
The novel describes a voyage of self-discovery.
Sail
To start a journey by water.
They will sail at dawn.
Voyage
Traveling as a means of transportation.
Voyage by train can be scenic and relaxing.
Sail
The act of navigating on water.
The sail across the bay was relaxing.
Voyage
The act or process of traveling from one place to another.
The voyage was filled with unexpected challenges.
Sail
A sail is a tensile structure—made from fabric or other membrane materials—that uses wind power to propel sailing craft, including sailing ships, sailboats, windsurfers, ice boats, and even sail-powered land vehicles. Sails may be made from a combination of woven materials—including canvas or polyester cloth, laminated membranes or bonded filaments—usually in a three- or four-sided shape.
Voyage
A long journey to a foreign or distant place, especially by sea.
Sail
A piece of material extended on a mast to catch the wind and propel a boat or ship or other vessel
All the sails were unfurled
The boat can no longer carry that area of sail
Voyage
Often voyages The events of a journey of exploration or discovery considered as material for a narrative.
Sail
A wind-catching apparatus attached to the arm of a windmill.
Voyage
Such a narrative.
Sail
A voyage or excursion in a ship, especially a sailing ship or boat
They went for a sail
Voyage
To make a voyage.
Sail
The conning tower of a submarine.
Voyage
To sail across; traverse
Voyaged the western ocean.
Sail
A canvas sheet or tarpaulin
The sail covering the load of crates broke loose from the truck
Voyage
A long journey, especially by ship.
Sail
Travel in a boat with sails, especially as a sport or recreation
Ian took us out sailing on the lake
Voyage
(archaic) A written account of a journey or travel.
Sail
Move smoothly and rapidly or in a stately or confident manner
The ball sailed inside the right-hand post
Voyage
(obsolete) The act or practice of travelling.
Sail
A piece of fabric sewn together and fitted to the spars and rigging of a vessel so as to convert the force of the wind into forward motion of the vessel.
Voyage
(intransitive) To go on a long journey.
Sail
The sails of a ship or boat.
Voyage
Formerly, a passage either by sea or land; a journey, in general; but not chiefly limited to a passing by sea or water from one place, port, or country, to another; especially, a passing or journey by water to a distant place or country.
I love a sea voyage and a blustering tempest.
So steers the prudent craneHer annual voyage, borne on winds.
All the voyage of their lifeIs bound in shallows and in miseries.
Sail
A narrow fairwater supporting the bridge of a submarine.
Voyage
The act or practice of traveling.
Nations have interknowledge of one another by voyage into foreign parts, or strangers that come to them.
Sail
Pl. sail or sails Nautical A sailing vessel.
Voyage
Course; way.
Sail
(Nautical) A trip or voyage in a sailing craft.
Voyage
To take a voyage; especially, to sail or pass by water.
A mind foreverVoyaging through strange seas of thought alone.
Sail
Something, such as the blade of a windmill, that resembles a sail in form or function.
Voyage
To travel; to pass over; to traverse.
With what pain[I] voyaged the unreal, vast, unbounded deep.
Sail
To move across the surface of water, especially by means of a sailing vessel.
Voyage
An act of traveling by water
Sail
To travel by water in a vessel.
Voyage
A journey to some distant place
Sail
To start out on such a voyage or journey
Tomorrow we sail for the islands.
Voyage
Travel by boat on a boat propelled by wind or by other means;
The QE2 will sail to Southampton tomorrow
Sail
To operate a sailing craft, especially for sport.
Sail
To move along or progress smoothly or effortlessly
Sailed into the room five minutes late.
Sailed through the exam.
Sailed through the red light.
Sail
To move along through the air
The ball sailed into the stands.
Sail
To navigate or manage (a vessel).
Sail
To voyage upon or across
Sail the Pacific.
Sail
(nautical) A piece of fabric attached to a boat and arranged such that it causes the wind to drive the boat along. The sail may be attached to the boat via a combination of mast, spars and ropes.
Sail
The concept of a sail or sails, as if a substance.
Take in sail: a storm is coming.
Sail
(uncountable) The power harnessed by a sail or sails, or the use of this power for travel or transport.
Sail
A trip in a boat, especially a sailboat.
Let's go for a sail.
Sail
A sailing vessel; a vessel of any kind; a craft.
Twenty sail were in sight.
Sail
(nautical) The conning tower of a submarine.
Sail
The blade of a windmill.
Sail
A tower-like structure found on the dorsal (topside) surface of submarines.
Sail
The floating organ of siphonophores, such as the Portuguese man-of-war.
Sail
(fishing) A sailfish.
We caught three sails today.
Sail
(paleontology) an outward projection of the spine, occurring in certain dinosaurs and synapsids
Sail
Anything resembling a sail, such as a wing.
Sail
To be impelled or driven forward by the action of wind upon sails, as a ship on water; to be impelled on a body of water by steam or other power.
Sail
To move through or on the water; to swim, as a fish or a waterfowl.
Sail
To ride in a boat, especially a sailboat.
Sail
(intransitive) To set sail; to begin a voyage.
We sail for Australia tomorrow.
Sail
To move briskly and gracefully through the air.
Sail
(intransitive) To move briskly but sedately.
The duchess sailed haughtily out of the room.
Sail
To deal out (cards) from a distance by impelling them across a surface.
Sail
An extent of canvas or other fabric by means of which the wind is made serviceable as a power for propelling vessels through the water.
Behoves him now both sail and oar.
Sail
Anything resembling a sail, or regarded as a sail.
Sail
A wing; a van.
Like an eagle soaringTo weather his broad sails.
Sail
The extended surface of the arm of a windmill.
Sail
A sailing vessel; a vessel of any kind; a craft.
Sail
A passage by a sailing vessel; a journey or excursion upon the water.
Sail
To be impelled or driven forward by the action of wind upon sails, as a ship on water; to be impelled on a body of water by the action of steam or other power.
Sail
To move through or on the water; to swim, as a fish or a water fowl.
Sail
To be conveyed in a vessel on water; to pass by water; as, they sailed from London to Canton.
Sail
To set sail; to begin a voyage.
Sail
To move smoothly through the air; to glide through the air without apparent exertion, as a bird.
As is a winged messenger of heaven, . . .When he bestrides the lazy pacing clouds,And sails upon the bosom of the air.
Sail
To pass or move upon, as in a ship, by means of sails; hence, to move or journey upon (the water) by means of steam or other force.
A thousand ships were manned to sail the sea.
Sail
To fly through; to glide or move smoothly through.
Sublime she sailsThe aërial space, and mounts the wingèd gales.
Sail
To direct or manage the motion of, as a vessel; as, to sail one's own ship.
Sail
A large piece of fabric (as canvas) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel
Sail
An ocean trip taken for pleasure
Sail
Traverse or travel by ship on (a body of water);
We sailed the Atlantic
He sailed the Pacific all alone
Sail
Move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions;
The diva swept into the room
Shreds of paper sailed through the air
The searchlights swept across the sky
Sail
Travel in a boat propelled by wind;
I love sailing, especially on the open sea
Sail
Travel by boat on a boat propelled by wind or by other means;
The QE2 will sail to Southampton tomorrow
Common Curiosities
Is every sail a voyage?
Not necessarily. A sail can be brief, while a voyage implies longer travel.
Does "voyage" only refer to sea travel?
No, it can also refer to space travel or metaphorically to other long journeys.
Can you "sail" for just a few minutes?
Yes, "sail" doesn't specify duration.
Can "sail" refer to boats without sails?
Yes, "sail" can mean to travel by water, regardless of boat type.
What do you call someone who sails?
A sailor.
Can "sail" mean to succeed effortlessly?
Yes, as in "she sailed through the exam."
Are voyages always planned?
Most are, but there can be unplanned or unexpected voyages.
Can a voyage be in the past?
Yes, one can refer to a past journey as a voyage.
Can "voyage" be a verb?
It's primarily a noun, but in poetic or older contexts, it's been used as a verb.
What's the main function of a sail?
As a noun, it's to catch and use wind to propel a boat or ship.
Can "voyage" be used metaphorically?
Yes, for example, a "voyage of discovery" might not involve physical travel.
Is sailing only a daytime activity?
No, one can sail at any time, including night.
Does a voyage always involve challenges?
Not always, but it often implies overcoming distance or other challenges.
Is "set sail" a common phrase?
Yes, it means to begin a journey by water.
Is a sailboat's main propulsion its sail?
Typically, yes, but many sailboats also have engines for when there's no wind.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
