missive

American  

[mis-iv] / ˈmɪs ɪv /

noun

1. a written message; letter.

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adjective

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

missive British  

/ ˈmɪsɪv /

noun

1. a formal or official letter

2. a formal word for letter

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adjective

1. rare sent or intended to be sent

Etymology

Origin of missive

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

Example Sentences

We know that because after Streeting's gambit, a missive was sent around government by the Cabinet Office ordering them not to.

From BBC

Let's be clear: missives of loyalty from cabinet ministers towards the prime minister shouldn't be newsworthy and they only become so when the opposite seems feasible.

From BBC

“I deny having abused, coerced or disrespected any woman,” he said in his missive, which has been translated to English.

From Los Angeles Times

“If you would only send a missive through the proper channels...I’d be happy to dictate the letters to you, if we could maybe begin this evening.”

From Literature

Both Truth Social missives Wednesday whipsawed shares of Patriot missile maker RTX, and home buyers Blackstone and Invitation Homes, which fell sharply.

From Barron's

Related Words

• memo
• memorandum