mission
/ˈmɪʃ(ə)n
/noun
1An important assignment given to a person or group of people, typically involving travel abroad: a fact-finding mission to the Czech Republic...
- They had an important mission to do, and he needed to remain focused.
- During a long conversation with a senior administration official, I asked why Wilson was assigned the mission to Niger.
- There are people who have already been assigned a mission to infiltrate and spy from the beginning.
Synonyms
assignment, commission, expedition, journey, trip, errand, undertaking, operation;
task, job, labour, work, chore;
business, duty, charge, trust;
Scottish & Irish message
1.1 [treated as singular or plural] A group of people sent on a mission: by then, the mission had journeyed over 3,500 miles...
- A joint government-Anglo-Jewish mission was sent out in May 1939 to Africa to assess appropriate settlement sites.
- Even a UN security mission sent in to assess the situation had to turn back before reaching Mazar because it was too dangerous to proceed.
- He said Indonesia and Malaysia would also form a joint mission to oversee and assess the reports made by the fact-finding mission.
Synonyms
delegation, deputation, commission, task force, legation, representation, delegacy
1.2An organization or institution involved in a long-term assignment abroad: the head of the West German mission...
- To introduce Indian culture to this crowd, the mission organizes a charity event called as ‘Sakura Bazaar’ each year.
- For a time, these missions became powerful institutions in colonial South America.
- On the outbreak of hostilities, diplomatic missions in enemy countries close down and the diplomats depart.
1.3An operation carried out by military aircraft: a reconnaissance mission...
- So why use strategic airlift assets to carry out an airdrop mission with impact at the strategic level?
- The A - 50 carries out patrol missions at an altitude of 5,000 to 10,000 metres.
- American missions and RAF operations continued in support of the beachhead.
Synonyms
sortie, operation, raid
1.4An expedition into space: NASA has approved a mission to investigate the atmosphere of Mars...
- Next month, NASA hopes to launch one of the most historic space exploration missions it has ever mounted.
- Prizes have been proposed for other aspects of space exploration, including missions to Mars.
- The agreement covers Space Shuttle missions supporting the International Space Station.
2The vocation or calling of a religious organization, especially a Christian one, to go out into the world and spread its faith: the Christian mission [mass noun]: Gandhi’s attitude to mission and conversion...
- The majority of Catholics have little appreciation of their mission to spread the faith as a precious gift intended for all.
- There is the one charged with the task of organizing the Christian mission in Britain and drawing it together as one Church.
- Its purpose is to express the nature of Christian faith in terms of the mission of the Church.
Synonyms
vocation, calling, pursuit, goal, aim, quest, undertaking, purpose, function
2.1A building or group of buildings used by a Christian mission: a tour of the missions on the California coast...
- This same team will be building missions, weapons, and new features for years to come.
- Economic recovery was painful but rapid, and by 1870 the church had even built its first mission.
- Security was beefed up across the capital last night, especially around hotels and diplomatic missions, police said.
Synonyms
mission post, mission station, missionary organization
3A strongly felt aim, ambition, or calling: his main mission in life has been to cut unemployment...
- He may well be a man with a mission - to stamp out pedophilia at its highest level - but it's a mission far to ambitious for one man.
- Given his book that was published yesterday, he talks very strongly about his mission.
- It's fairly strict, and one of my main missions in trying to be a better songwriter is to learn how to properly break all the rules.
Phrases
mission accomplished
Origin
Mid 16th century (denoting the sending of the Holy Spirit into the world): from Latin missio(n-), from mittere 'send'.