rescue mission

noun

plural rescue missions

1

: a city religious mission (see mission entry 1 sense 4a) providing social and spiritual assistance to the poor and needy

The nonprofit, Christian-based rescue mission has provided a variety of social services to the poor and homeless over its 55-year history.

—Janet Lavelle

also : the premises of a rescue mission

I used to go quite often to Charleston, West Virginia to speak in the old rescue mission …

—Lee Roberson

2

: an undertaking to rescue someone or something from a dangerous or difficult situation

They kept him alive that way for more than twenty-four hours, waiting for a helicopter rescue mission that came too late.

—Jamie James

After a 12-hour rescue mission, navy personnel were able to tow the animal safely to land.

—Brigit Katz

Examples of rescue mission in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Drones have also been used by the military and can deliver items, capture surveillance, and even rescue missions. —Alex Perry, The Enquirer, 17 Dec. 2024

The search and rescue mission has, so far, not turned up any signs of Elizabeth Pollard in Unity Township, Pennsylvania State Police said Tuesday. —Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 3 Dec. 2024

Susan Lane-Fournier Clackamas County Sheriff Lane-Fournier's disappearance spawned a multi-day search and rescue mission. —Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 2 Dec. 2024

The meat, the traditional centerpiece of the Thanksgiving meal, is not only dispensed by the rescue mission to agencies and charities in the county, but directly to residents at rural locations, including Eldersburg, Finksburg, Taneytown and Union Bridge. —Sherry Greenfield, Baltimore Sun, 28 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1