missionary

[mish-uh-ner-ee]

noun

plural

missionaries 

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.

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.

   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 Word Forms

• nonmissionary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of missionary¹

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

Example Sentences

Leo, 70, who has a history of missionary work in Peru and is the first pope from the United States, was elected in a conclave of cardinals on May 8.

Read more on Barron's

Rinderknecht is the son of Christian missionaries and a former resident of Pacific Palisades who was living in Florida at the time of his arrest.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Rindernecht grew up the son of Baptist missionaries who traveled across the United States every few years.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Latinos are some of the fastest growing members worldwide, thanks to missionary work in countries like Mexico, Brazil and Peru.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Last year, Tennessee’s attorney general filed suit against Mathis’s church, claiming it improperly commingled missionary funds with other moneys.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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