mission

mis·sion

noun

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.

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

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mission. (n.d.). Retrieved December 15th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Mission

mission

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. [pl.] 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
1. the special task or purpose for which a person is apparently destined; calling: one's mission in life
2. a goal or ambition to which a person or group is especially dedicated
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 of mission

Classical Latin missio, a sending, sending away from missus, past participle of mittere, to send from Indo-European base an unverified form smeit-, to throw from source Avestan hamista-, cast down

of a mission or missions
[oftenM-] 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

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

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"mission." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 15 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Mission>.

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mission. (n.d.). Retrieved December 15th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Mission

mission

noun

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 ambition or purpose that is assumed by a person or group: felt it was his mission in life to help the poor.
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 welfare or educational organization established for the needy people of a district.

transitive verb

mis·sioned, mis·sion·ing, mis·sions

To send (someone) on a mission.
To organize or establish a religious mission among (a people) or in (an area).

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 or relating to a furniture style originating during the Arts and Crafts Movement and characterized by sturdy, angular, solid wood construction.

Origin of mission

French from Old French from Latin missiō missiōn- from missus past participle of mittere to send off

Related Forms:

mis′sion·al
adjective

mission

Mission San Luis Rey

Oceanside, California

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"mission." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 15 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Mission>.

APA Style

mission. (n.d.). Retrieved December 15th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Mission

Noun

(countable and uncountable, plural missions)

(countable) A set of tasks that fulfills a purpose or duty; an assignment set by an employer.
(uncountable) Religious evangelism.
(uncountable) (the missions) collective term for third world charities, particularly those which preach as well as provide aid.
(countable) (Catholic tradition) an infrequent gathering of religious believers in a parish, usually part of a larger regional event with a central theme.
A number of people appointed to perform any service; a delegation; an embassy.
A settlement or building serving as a base for missionary work.
Many cities across the Americas grew from Spanish missions.

Related terms

terms etymologically related to mission

Verb

(third-person singular simple present missions, present participle missioning, simple past and past participle missioned)

To send to a mission.

Origin

From French mission (“a sending, a mission”), Old French mission (“expense”), from Latin missiō (“a sending, sending away, dispatching, discharging, release, remission, cessation”), from mittō (“to send”).

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.