missionary

Missionary is defined as someone who is sent somewhere to teach ideas, specifically religious ideas.

(noun)

An example of a missionary is a Christian who set up a school in a poor town.

The definition of missionary is something that relates to the work or style of someone on a religious mission.

(adjective)

An example of missionary is how you would describe the summer building project of a church group, a missionary trip.

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See missionary in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

of or characteristic of missions or missionaries, esp. religious ones

Origin: ModL (Ec) missionarius

noun pl. missionaries

a person sent on a mission, esp. on a religious mission
also missioner

See missionary in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. mis·sion·ar·ies
  1. One who is sent on a mission, especially one sent to do religious or charitable work in a territory or foreign country.
  2. One who attempts to persuade or convert others to a particular program, doctrine, or set of principles; a propagandist.
adjective
  1. Of or relating to missions or missionaries.
  2. Engaged in the activities of a mission or missionary.
  3. Tending to propagandize or use insistent persuasion: missionary fervor.

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