missionary position

[ mish-uh-ner-ee puh-zish-uhn ]

noun

1. a face-to-face sex position in which the person who is being penetrated lays flat on their back, while the person who is penetrating them lays on top of them.

missionary position

noun

1. informal.
   a position for sexual intercourse in which the man lies on top of the woman and they are face to face

Word History and Origins

Origin of missionary position¹

First recorded in 1945–50; so called because it was allegedly advocated by Christian missionaries working among Indigenous peoples

Word History and Origins

Origin of missionary position¹

C20: from the belief that missionaries advocated this as the proper position to primitive peoples among whom it was unknown

Example Sentences

“She said they had sex in the missionary position, and that Trump told her she reminded him of his daughter. Feels like we should lock him up just for that, right?”

From New York Times

“During former President Trump’s criminal hush-money trial, adult film star Stormy Daniels testified that she and Trump had sex ‘in missionary position.’

From New York Times

And not always in the missionary position.

From Los Angeles Times

Members adopt sexualized names like Sister Missionary Position and host an annual “Hunky Jesus” and “Foxy Mary” contest at Easter.

From Washington Times

“Don’t have sex in the missionary position, don’t have sex standing up. Just don’t do it, promise?” he says, before offering the class a plastic bin full of “rubbers.”

From Slate