missionary

[ mish-uh-ner-ee ]

noun

, plural mis·sion·ar·ies.

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

   There are opportunities for student missionaries living abroad to work with people in need of aid, participate in building projects, and share the Gospel.

2. a person strongly in favor of a program, set of principles, etc., who attempts to persuade or convert others.
3. a person who is sent on a mission.
4. missionary position ( def ).

adjective

1. pertaining to or connected with religious missions.
2. engaged in such a mission or devoted to work connected with missions.
3. reflecting or prompted by the desire to persuade or convert others:

   the missionary efforts of political fanatics.

4. characteristic of a missionary:

   missionary zeal.

5. relating to or noting the missionary position ( def ):

   Then it was up to the bedroom for some good, old-fashioned missionary sex.

missionary

/ ˈmɪʃənərɪ /

noun

1. a member of a religious mission

adjective

1. of or relating to missionaries

   missionary work

2. resulting from a desire to convert people to one's own beliefs

   missionary zeal

Other Words From

• non·mis·sion·ar·y adjective noun plural nonmissionaries

Word History and Origins

Origin of missionary¹

First recorded in 1625–35; from New Latin missiōnārius; mission, -ary

Example Sentences

Paxton is a sweet and eager missionary born into the faith; Barnes joined by way of her mother’s conversion and seems a bit more streetwise.

From Los Angeles Times

On Nov. 8, she’ll star in the new A24 theological thriller “Heretic,” playing a Mormon missionary trapped in a game of cat-and-mouse with Hugh Grant.

From Los Angeles Times

He attended services at his local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ward, stayed for a meeting with the missionary committee and then bid them farewell — including his across-the-road neighbor.

From Los Angeles Times

Sustained by mercantile profits and inspired by missionary zeal, this diffuse global order proved surprisingly resilient, surviving for three full centuries.

From Salon

Admittedly, the destruction caused by the Napoleonic wars may seem relatively modest compared to the devastation of the Black Death, but the long-term changes engendered by Britain’s industrial revolution and the finance capitalism that emerged from those wars proved far more compelling than the earlier era’s merchant companies and missionary endeavors.

From Salon

Related Words

• clergy
• evangelist
• messenger
• pastor
• preacher
• teacher