missionary

American  

[mish-uh-ner-ee] / ˈmɪʃ əˌnɛr i /

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.

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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 British  

/ ˈmɪʃənərɪ /

noun

1. a member of a religious mission

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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

Etymology

Origin of missionary

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

Example Sentences

The Chicago-born clergyman, who spent nearly 20 years as a missionary in Peru and eventually obtained citizenship, took the name Leo XIV.

From Barron's

Western missionaries were expelled; churches, mosques and temples were brought under state control or shuttered; and clergy who refused to join government-sanctioned “patriotic associations” were imprisoned.

From The Wall Street Journal

Since being made pope in May, the Chicago-born pontiff -- who spent about 20 years as a missionary in Peru -- has urged more pressure on governments to stop climate change.

From Barron's

The items, which came from several different communities around Canada, had been sent by missionaries to Rome to appear in a 1925 exhibition that displayed over 100,000 items.

From BBC

Global networks of Muslims support Islamic preachers and schools; Christians outside Africa, especially but not only in the U.S., support Christian missionary and educational work.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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