rescue mission

noun

plural rescue missions

1

: a city religious mission (see mission entry 1 sense 4a) providing social and spiritual assistance to the poor and needy

The nonprofit, Christian-based rescue mission has provided a variety of social services to the poor and homeless over its 55-year history.

—Janet Lavelle

also : the premises of a rescue mission

I used to go quite often to Charleston, West Virginia to speak in the old rescue mission …

—Lee Roberson

2

: an undertaking to rescue someone or something from a dangerous or difficult situation

They kept him alive that way for more than twenty-four hours, waiting for a helicopter rescue mission that came too late.

—Jamie James

After a 12-hour rescue mission, navy personnel were able to tow the animal safely to land.

—Brigit Katz

Examples of rescue mission in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Rocky Mountain National Park said several agencies and organizations assisted in the search and rescue mission. —Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 17 May 2024

The Red Crescent said the rescue mission was coordinated with Israel's military, which had no comment. —Najib Jobain, arkansasonline.com, 11 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1