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mission

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The definition of a mission is being sent to complete a specific task or is a group of people sent somewhere to promote the peoples' lives in some way.

(noun)

An example of mission is a journey into outer space.
An example of mission is Christians bringing their religion to pagan lands.

See mission in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a sending out or being sent out with authority to perform a special service; specif.,
1. the sending out of persons by a religious organization to preach, teach, and convert
2. the sending out of persons to a foreign government to conduct negotiations
3. the work done by such persons
1. a group of persons sent by a religious body to spread its religion, esp. in a foreign land
2. its organization, headquarters, or place of residency
3. organized missionary work
a group of persons sent to a foreign government to conduct negotiations; diplomatic delegation; embassy
a group of technicians, specialists, etc. sent to a foreign country
the special duty or function for which someone is sent as a messenger or representative; errand
the special task or purpose for which a person is apparently destined in life; calling
any charitable, educational, or religious organization for helping persons in need
a series of special religious services designed to increase faith or bring about conversion
a district without a church of its own, served by a nearby church
☆ Mil. a specific combat operation assigned to an individual or unit; esp., a single combat flight by an airplane or group of airplanes

Origin: L missio, a sending, sending away < missus, pp. of mittere, to send < IE base *smeit-, to throw > Avestan hamista-, cast down

adjective

of a mission or missions
☆ of or in the style of the early Spanish missions in the SW U.S.; specif., designating a type of heavy, dark furniture with simple, square lines

transitive verb

to send on a mission
to establish a religious mission in (district) or among (a people)

See mission in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. A body of persons sent to conduct negotiations or establish relations with a foreign country.
b. The business with which such a body of persons is charged.
c. A permanent diplomatic office abroad.
d. A body of experts or dignitaries sent to a foreign country.
a. A body of persons sent to a foreign land by a religious organization, especially a Christian organization, to spread its faith or provide educational, medical, and other assistance.
b. A mission established abroad.
c. The district assigned to a mission worker.
d. A building or compound housing a mission.
e. An organization for carrying on missionary work in a territory.
f. missions Missionary duty or work.
A Christian church or congregation with no cleric of its own that depends for support on a larger religious organization.
A series of special Christian services for purposes of proselytizing.
A welfare or educational organization established for the needy people of a district.
a. A special assignment given to a person or group: an agent on a secret mission.
b. A combat operation assigned to a person or military unit.
c. An aerospace operation intended to carry out specific program objectives: a mission to Mars.
An inner calling to pursue an activity or perform a service; a vocation.

transitive verb mis·sioned, mis·sion·ing, mis·sions

To send on a mission.
To organize or establish a religious mission among or in.

adjective

Of or relating to a mission.
Of or relating to a style of architecture or furniture used in the early Spanish missions of California.
often Mission Of, relating to, or having the distinctive qualities of an early 20th-century style of plain, heavy, dark-stained wood furniture.

Origin:

Origin: French

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin missiō, missiōn-

Origin: , from missus

Origin: , past participle of mittere, to send off

Related Forms: