missive

noun

mis·​sive ˈmi-siv How to pronounce missive (audio)
: a written communication : letter
wrote a lengthy missive to her father

Examples of missive in a Sentence

She received yet another lengthy missive from her father. the two old friends like to fire off missives filled with good-natured teasing and mock insults
Recent Examples on the Web From prison, Navalny sent her love letters, often positing the missives on his social media. Francesca Ebel, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2024 WeChat rolled out the ability to send these voicemail-like audio missives in 2011, WhatsApp followed two years later, and Apple’s iMessages joined the party in 2014. Jacob Sweet, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2024 Written between 1867 and 1898, the missives may provide new insights into Hogarth’s baffling bond with her brother-in-law. Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024 The missive joins earlier similar requests to exclude Israel from more than 1,400 artists in Finland and Iceland. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 30 Jan. 2024 Following a missive from Universal Music Group CEO Ludcian Grainge decrying the practice, exclusives died down. Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 1 Feb. 2024 His missive concluded with his intentions to spread positivity and love to other people, including his social media followers. Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2024 Ed Hardy swimwear was a riot of happy colors and bright missives about death. Miami Staff, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 Just 15 percent of those surveyed were regularly confronted with Trump’s online missives, and that minority comprised more Democrats than Republicans. Noah Rothman, National Review, 15 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'missive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French lettre missive, literally, letter intended to be sent

First Known Use

circa 1553, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of missive was circa 1553

Dictionary Entries Near missive

Cite this Entry

“Missive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/missive. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

missive

noun
mis·​sive ˈmis-iv How to pronounce missive (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on missive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!