MISSION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does mission mean? 

• MISSION (noun)
  The noun MISSION has 5 senses:

1. an organization of missionaries in a foreign land sent to carry on religious work

2. an operation that is assigned by a higher headquarters

3. a special assignment that is given to a person or group

4. the organized work of a religious missionary

5. a group of representatives or delegates

  Familiarity information: MISSION used as a noun is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MISSION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An organization of missionaries in a foreign land sent to carry on religious work

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

foreign mission; mission; missionary post; missionary station

Hypernyms ("mission" is a kind of...):

NGO; nongovernmental organization (an organization that is not part of the local or state or federal government)

Derivation:

missioner (someone sent on a mission--especially a religious or charitable mission to a foreign country)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An operation that is assigned by a higher headquarters

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

military mission; mission

Context example:

the planes were on a bombing mission

Hypernyms ("mission" is a kind of...):

military operation; operation (activity by a military or naval force (as a maneuver or campaign))

Domain category:

armed forces; armed services; military; military machine; war machine (the military forces of a nation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "mission"):

combat mission (a mission to capture or defend something)

search mission (a mission to discover something)

search and destroy mission (an operation developed for United States troops in Vietnam; troops would move through a designated area destroying troops as they found them)

direct support (a mission requiring one force to support another specific force and authorizing it to answer directly the supported force's request for assistance)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A special assignment that is given to a person or group

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

charge; commission; mission

Context example:

his charge was deliver a message

Hypernyms ("mission" is a kind of...):

assignment; duty assignment (a duty that you are assigned to perform (especially in the armed forces))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "mission"):

fool's errand (a fruitless mission)

mission impossible (an extremely dangerous or difficult mission)

martyr operation; sacrifice operation; suicide mission (killing or injuring others while annihilating yourself; usually accomplished with a bomb)

Derivation:

missioner (someone sent on a mission--especially a religious or charitable mission to a foreign country)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The organized work of a religious missionary

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

mission; missionary work

Hypernyms ("mission" is a kind of...):

work (activity directed toward making or doing something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "mission"):

da'wah; dawah (missionary work for Islam)

Derivation:

missioner (someone sent on a mission--especially a religious or charitable mission to a foreign country)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A group of representatives or delegates

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

commission; delegacy; delegation; deputation; mission

Hypernyms ("mission" is a kind of...):

organisation; organization (a group of people who work together)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "mission"):

diplomatic mission (a mission serving diplomatic ends)

embassy (an ambassador and his entourage collectively)

Derivation:

missioner (someone sent on a mission--especially a religious or charitable mission to a foreign country)

 Context examples 

Community health centers have a three-fold mission.

(Community Health Center, NCI Thesaurus)

That is the mission which now lies before us, and here, Watson, is the Sydenham train.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It looks as if they always send their singular warning or token before them when starting upon their mission.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She has come and told me that the chaplain of the English mission church has been sent for.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

The mission of the Cancer Therapy and Research Center is to conquer cancer through research, prevention and treatment.

(Cancer Therapy and Research Center, NCI Thesaurus)

If you are about to challenge traditional ways and rethink methods, more power to you—that is your mission in life as an Aquarian.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation is a national, non-profit health foundation whose mission is declared as the prevention and early detection of cancer through scientific research and education.

(Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation, NCI Thesaurus)

He nodded his head, regarding her thoughtfully as she gathered the torn pieces of manuscript and tucked them into the pocket of her jacket—ocular evidence of the success of her mission.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

It advises the NIH Deputy Director for Management and delivery of technical and administrative services in support of the NIH research mission.

(Office of Research Services, NCI Thesaurus)

The mission's final calculations predict loss of contact with the Cassini spacecraft will take place on Sept. 15 at 7:55 a.m. EDT (4:55 a.m. PDT).

(Cassini Spacecraft Makes Its Final Approach to Saturn, NASA)