mission meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

mission

noun

/ˈmɪʃ.ən/

Etymology Learned borrowing from Latin missiō, missiōnem (“a sending, sending away, dispatching, discharging, release, remission, cessation”).

11 senses

A set of tasks that fulfills a purpose or duty; an assignment set by an employer, or by oneself.

A important goal or purpose; an objective.

[She] made it her mission in life to make sure that no one around them would ever know the real truth. But this daughter of hers, she was a loose cannon, she was not someone to be trusted.[…]2008 October 16, Martina Cole, The Business: A compelling suspense thriller of danger and destruction, Headline, →ISBN:
The first page [of her CV] was a statement of her mission and role in life, which was to add the highest value in everything she undertook. On page two, we listed her primary governing values and operating principles. The third page listed her objectives[…]2013 September 30, Ratanjit, How Oneness Changes Everything: Empowering Business Through 9 Universal Laws, BalboaPress, →ISBN, page 213:

A missionary expedition.

In plural Third World charities, particularly those which preach as well as provide aid.

Catholicism, Christianity 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.

[I]n either of theſe Ships, there ſhould be a Miſsion of three of the Fellowes, or Brethren of Salomons Houſe; [...]1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “New Atlantis. A Worke Vnfinished.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC, pages 18–19:

Obsolete Dismissal; discharge from service

A settlement or building serving as a base for missionary work.

Australia An settlement predominantly inhabited by Indigenous Australians living in housing commission.

Becoming obsolete

Colloquial An ordeal; an difficult, trying task.

I was thinking like meat, [you could use this wooden device to] tenderize a steak ... but not into a wooden box, 'cause it's gonna be a mission to clean.2025 July 30, Ben Ebbrell, Sorted Food, Can Antique Gadgets Handle Modern Cooking?, 18:23:

Derived terms: 42 terms
antimission, chef de mission, countermission, diplomatic mission, fire mission, inner mission, intermission, intromission, mission accomplished, missional, mission creep, mission-critical, missionee, Mission golden-eyed treefrog, mission home, mission impossible, Mission Indian, missionise, missionization, missionize, mission kill, missionless, mission manzanita, mission mix, mission mixture, Mission olive, Mission Ridge, mission school, mission statement, mission station, mission stiff, multimission, on a mission, permanent mission, permission, remission, rescue mission, side mission, space mission, submission, suicide mission, transmission
Related terms: 29 terms
mess, message, messenger, missile, missionary, missive, admissible, admission, admit, commission, commit, demiss, demission, demit, emission, emit, intermission, intermit, manumission, manumit, omit, permit, premise, pretermit, promise, remit, submit, surmise, transmit

verb

Etymology Learned borrowing from Latin missiō, missiōnem (“a sending, sending away, dispatching, discharging, release, remission, cessation”).

To send on a mission.

To do missionary work, proselytize.

To undertake an arduous or long task that requires substantial effort.