missive

[mis-iv]

noun

1. a written message; letter.

adjective

1. sent or about to be sent, especially of a letter from an official source.

missive

/ ˈmɪsɪv /

noun

1. a formal or official letter

2. a formal word for letter

adjective

1. rare,  sent or intended to be sent

Word History and Origins

Origin of missive¹

1400–50; late Middle English ( letter ) missive < Medieval Latin ( littera ) missīva sent (letter), equivalent to Latin miss ( us ) (past participle of mittere to send) + -īva, feminine of -īvus -ive

Word History and Origins

Origin of missive¹

C15: from Medieval Latin missivus , from mittere to send

Example Sentences

A smart and savvy negotiator who bridged Sacramento’s overlapping worlds of government, business and labor, Williamson is also someone who picked unnecessary fights and launched cruel missives, political consultants and friends said this week.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The missive is the latest sign of pushback against the AI boom buoying the U.S. economy and markets while straining power producers’ ability to keep up.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The missive was published late Monday, days ahead of the COP30 climate summit in Brazil.

Read more on Barron's

He has been known on an occasion or two to defend the club with private missives to media organisations, but nothing is heard in public.

Read more on BBC

Mark’s messages become incomprehensible and then he disappears, leaving his uncle on the hunt for the boy while trying to make sense of the cryptic missives.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• memo 
• memorandum