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

Both in 2018 and 2019, I myself was evacuated from Haiti by United Nations security after violent protests broke out and made getting any missionary work done impossible.

From Time

To be frank, it wasn’t the missionaries who built the Alamo.

From Time

At the time, Jurado says, the Philippines had few medical hospitals and clinics, primarily set up by the Spanish colonial government and missionaries.

From Time

Founded in 1892 by American missionaries and educators, it’s now a vibrant center for cultural and educational exchange between Spain and the US.

From MIT Technology Review

Evangelical missionaries, though, are reportedly telling tribes not to take the vaccine because “they will turn into an alligator.”

From Ozy

Jesuits are educators known as the intellectuals of the church; they also have a long missionary tradition.

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

Heavily armed Simbas had already arrived at the missionary house and were lining up families in the backyard for execution.

From The Daily Beast

The hospital also treated a second missionary who died in early August, and this nurse also had come in contact with him.

From The Daily Beast

Bagaza called for the expulsion of all Italian priests and missionary workers, but those who stayed received death threats.

From The Daily Beast

His zeal led him among foreigners as a missionary; after visiting Bohemia, he went among the Poles, by whom he was killed.

From Project Gutenberg

Are you quite sure,” asked the missionary pointedly, “that you are supplied with everything else that you require?

From Project Gutenberg

I rather fear, major, that your method of comforting me is not what the missionary would call orthodox.

From Project Gutenberg

So we composed ourselves again to hear of the battle to the death between the noble missionary woman and the mighty Bengal.

From Project Gutenberg

He hoped to hear that melody again, when Mr. Warden had finished the story of the brave missionary of Ballerraderad.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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