mission

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noun

mis·​sion ˈmi-shən 

1

a

: a specific task with which a person or a group is charged

Their mission was to help victims of the disaster.

b(1)

: a definite military, naval, or aerospace task

a bombing mission

a space mission

(2)

: a flight operation of an aircraft or spacecraft in the performance of a mission

a mission to Mars

c

: a preestablished and often self-imposed objective or purpose

statement of the company's mission

2

: calling, vocation

Her mission was to be a teacher.

3

: a body of persons sent to perform a service or carry on an activity: such as

a

: a group sent to a foreign country to conduct diplomatic or political negotiations

a member of a trade mission

b

: a permanent embassy or legation

c

: a team of specialists or cultural leaders sent to a foreign country

served on a mission to improve agricultural methods

4

a

: a ministry commissioned by a religious organization to propagate (see propagate sense 3b) its faith or carry on humanitarian work

… there was a little port called Quinchang, where the fathers of the mission usually landed from Macao, on their progress to teach the Christian religion to the Chinese …

—Daniel Defoe

b

: assignment to or work in a field of missionary enterprise

c(1)

: a mission establishment

(2)

: a local church or parish dependent on a larger religious organization for direction or financial support

Spanish missions in California

d

missions plural : organized missionary work

e

: a course of sermons and services given to convert the unchurched or quicken Christian faith

a preaching mission

5

obsolete : the act or an instance of sending

mission

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verb

missioned; missioning ˈmi-sh(ə-)niŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to send on or entrust with a mission

2

: to carry on a religious mission among or in

mission

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adjective

1

: of or relating to a style used in the early Spanish missions of the southwestern U.S.

mission architecture

2

: of, relating to, or having the characteristic of a style of plain heavy usually oak furniture originating in the U.S. in the early part of the 20th century

Synonyms

Noun

• assignment
• brief
• business
• charge
• detail
• job
• operation
• post

Examples of mission in a Sentence

Noun

Our mission was to recover the stolen plans.

By patient negotiation she succeeded in her mission of averting a strike.

a mission to the moon

a member of a trade mission

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But after conducting a review of Ingenuity's final flight, mission managers at JPL say the helicopter could serve another purpose on the Red Planet. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024

When a terrifying incident on mission STS-LR9 puts the lives of her colleagues—including her love—on the line, Joan must find a way to bring the crew home safely. —Shannon Carlin, TIME, 17 Dec. 2024

While challenging, environmental goals are still central to many corporate missions. —Aparna Prabhakar, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

The international advocacy organization with a mission to end extreme poverty has tapped the singer/producer to topline the next iteration of the first-of-its-kind African tour circuit headlined by international artists. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 17 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Verb, and Adjective

New Latin, Medieval Latin, & Latin; New Latin mission-, missio religious mission, from Medieval Latin, task assigned, from Latin, act of sending, from mittere to send

First Known Use

Noun

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Verb

1692, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mission

• mission control
• mission creep
• mission of mercy
• mission statement
• on a mission
• rescue mission

Kids Definition

mission

noun

mis·​sion

ˈmish-ən

1

a

: a group of missionaries

b

: the work of a missionary

c

: a place where a mission or missionary works

2

a

: a group sent to a foreign country to carry on discussions or to provide training or assistance

trade mission

military mission

b

: a group of diplomats who stay in a foreign country

3

a

: a task or job that is assigned

our mission was to recover the stolen plans

b

: a definite military, naval, or aerospace task

a space mission

Etymology

Noun

from modern Latin mission-, missio "a group sent out by a religious organization," derived from earlier Latin missus, past participle of mittere "to send, throw" — related to message

Geographical Definition

Mission

geographical name

Mis·​sion ˈmi-shən 

1

city near the Rio Grande in southern Texas population 77,058

2

municipality on the Fraser River in southwestern British Columbia, Canada population 36,426