What does "mission" mean?
A set of tasks that fulfills a purpose or duty; an assignment set by an employer, or by oneself.
Mission
/ˈmɪʃ(ə)n/ name, noun, verb, slang
name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A set of tasks that fulfills a purpose or duty; an assignment set by an employer, or by oneself.
- Grammar: mission is listed as name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: accredit, action, activity, adventure.
- Useful contrasts: aimlessness, chaos, freedom.
- Usage evidence: We carried out our mission successfully.
How to use "mission"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "mission" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "mission" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "mission" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "mission" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "mission" is acting as name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "accredit" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "mission", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A set of tasks that fulfills a purpose or duty; an assignment set by an employer, or by oneself. countable
- 2 the organized work of a religious missionary wordnet
- 3 A important goal or purpose; an objective. countable, uncountable
"[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.[…]"
- 4 a special assignment that is given to a person or group wordnet
- 5 A missionary expedition. countable
Show 11 more definitions
- 6 an operation that is assigned by a higher headquarters wordnet
- 7 Third World charities, particularly those which preach as well as provide aid. countable, in-plural, uncountable
- 8 a group of representatives or delegates wordnet
- 9 An infrequent gathering of religious believers in a parish, usually part of a larger regional event with a central theme. countable
- 10 an organization of missionaries in a foreign land sent to carry on religious work wordnet
- 11 A number of people appointed to perform any service; a delegation; an embassy. countable, uncountable
"[I]n either of theſe Ships, there ſhould be a Miſsion of three of the Fellowes, or Brethren of Salomons Houſe; [...]"
- 12 Dismissal; discharge from service countable, obsolete, uncountable
- 13 A settlement or building serving as a base for missionary work. countable, uncountable
"Many cities across the Americas grew from Spanish missions."
- 14 An settlement predominantly inhabited by Indigenous Australians living in housing commission. Australia, countable, uncountable
- 15 A drug run. countable, slang, uncountable
- 16 An ordeal; an difficult, trying task. colloquial, countable, uncountable
"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."
Verb
- 1 To send on a mission. transitive
- 2 To do missionary work, proselytize. intransitive
Proper Noun
- 1 A district municipality of British Columbia, Canada.
- 2 A neighborhood of San Francisco.
Antonyms
Example
"We carried out our mission successfully."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "mission"?
Common synonyms include: accredit, action, activity, adventure, agency, agentship.
How do you use "mission" in a sentence?
We carried out our mission successfully.
How do you pronounce "mission"?
Pronounced /ˈmɪʃ(ə)n/.
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin missiō, missiōnem (“a sending, sending away, dispatching, discharging, release, remission, cessation”).