First Known Use: 1530
Dictionary
1mission
noun mis·sion \ˈmi-shən\
: a task or job that someone is given to do
: a specific military or naval task
: a flight by an aircraft or spacecraft to perform a specific task
Full Definition of MISSION
1
obsolete : the act or an instance of sending
2
a : a ministry commissioned by a religious organization to propagate its faith or carry on humanitarian work 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 d plural : organized missionary work e : a course of sermons and services given to convert the unchurched or quicken Christian faith
3
: a body of persons sent to perform a service or carry on an activity: as a : a group sent to a foreign country to conduct diplomatic or political negotiations b : a permanent embassy or legation c : a team of specialists or cultural leaders sent to a foreign country
4
a : a specific task with which a person or a group is charged 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>
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Origin of MISSION
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
2mission
verb
mis·sionedmis·sion·ing \ˈmi-sh(ə-)niŋ\
Definition of MISSION
transitive verb
1
: to send on or entrust with a mission
2
: to carry on a religious mission among or in
First Known Use of MISSION
1692
Rhymes with MISSION
3mission
adjective
Definition of MISSION
1
: of or relating to a style used in the early Spanish missions of the southwestern United States <mission architecture>
2
: of, relating to, or having the characteristic of a style of plain heavy usually oak furniture originating in the United States in the early part of the 20th century
First Known Use of MISSION
1900
Mission
geographical name Mis·sion \ˈmi-shən\
Definition of MISSION
1
city S Texas near the Rio Grande pop 77,058
2
municipality Canada in SW British Columbia pop 36,426
MISSION Defined for Kids
mission
noun mis·sion \ˈmi-shən\
Definition of MISSION for Kids
1
: a task that is assigned or begun
2
: a task that is regarded as a very important duty <She thinks of teaching as her mission.>
3
: a group of missionaries
4
: a group of people sent by a government to represent it in a foreign country
5
: a place where the work of missionaries is carried on
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