missionary

[ mish-uh-ner-ee ]

/ ˈmɪʃ əˌnɛr i /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR missionary ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural mis·sion·ar·ies. Also mis·sion·er.

a person sent by a church into an area to carry on evangelism or other activities, as educational or hospital work.

a person strongly in favor of a program, set of principles, etc., who attempts to persuade or convert others.

a person who is sent on a mission.

adjective

pertaining to or connected with religious missions.

engaged in such a mission, or devoted to work connected with missions.

reflecting or prompted by the desire to persuade or convert others: the missionary efforts of political fanatics.

characteristic of a missionary.

Origin of missionary

From the New Latin word missiōnārius, dating back to 1635–45. See mission, -ary

OTHER WORDS FROM missionary

non·mis·sion·ar·y, adjective, noun, plural non·mis·sion·ar·ies.

Words nearby missionary

mission control, mission creep, mission specialist, mission statement, mission viejo, missionary, missionary apostolic, missionary position, missionary ridge, missioner, missionize

Example sentences from the Web for missionary

Outside, they killed Hector McMillan, a Canadian missionary, before joining the ranks of the fleeing rebels.

‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis |Nina Strochlic |November 23, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Heavily armed Simbas had already arrived at the missionary house and were lining up families in the backyard for execution.

‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis |Nina Strochlic |November 23, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The hospital also treated a second missionary who died in early August, and this nurse also had come in contact with him.

Ebola Contracted in Madrid Hospital Could Spread in Europe |Barbie Latza Nadeau |October 7, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Bagaza called for the expulsion of all Italian priests and missionary workers, but those who stayed received death threats.

Catholic Nuns Aiding Africa's Battered Wives Are Raped and Murdered |Barbie Latza Nadeau |September 10, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

What does Soylent have going for it other than missionary zeal and a revoltingly kitschy sci-fi throwback name?

Doc Says No to Soylent |Russell Saunders |May 13, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The missionary who prefers to withdraw from the people is not likely to make many converts.

Have We No Rights? |Mabel Williamson
But, on the other hand, the result is a bewildering multiplication of missionary efforts.

India and the Indians |Edward F. Elwin
Jogues petitioned to be sent back to the Mohawks as a missionary.

Montreal 1535-1914 under the French Rgime |William Henry Atherton
A missionary can't take time traipsin' round the country every time a relative gets a little down.

The Man of the Desert |Grace Livingston Hill
Their island took rank, therefore, as the most successful result of missionary enterprise in the North Pacific.

A Modern Buccaneer |Rolf Boldrewood

British Dictionary definitions for missionary

missionary

/ (ˈmɪʃənərɪ) /

noun plural -aries

a member of a religious mission

adjective

of or relating to missionaries missionary work

resulting from a desire to convert people to one's own beliefs missionary zeal

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

missionary

noun, plural mis·sion·ar·ies. Also mis·sion·er.

adjective

Origin of missionary

OTHER WORDS FROM missionary

Words nearby missionary

Example sentences from the Web for missionary

British Dictionary definitions for missionary

noun plural -aries

adjective

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

missionary

noun, plural mis·sion·ar·ies. Also mis·sion·er.

adjective

Origin of missionary

OTHER WORDS FROM missionary

Words nearby missionary

Words related to missionary

Example sentences from the Web for missionary

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for missionary

noun plural -aries

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for missionary