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

In their efforts to win the race, the Soviets push their reactors too hard, prompting a meltdown — the NASA crew mounts a bold rescue mission, taking their Soviet counterparts on board. —Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 Apr. 2026

Hegseth complained that the media hadn’t focused on such aspects of the war as the rescue missions to save two airmen whose plane was shot down in Iran, even though that story was covered extensively. —Ted Johnson, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026

As for the remaining dogs from the massive rescue mission, three are currently looking for homes, and 39 remain in Dogs Trust's care and are not available for adoption at the moment. —Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026

Therefore, no search-and-rescue missions are identical. —New Atlas, 13 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rescue mission

• abolition
• acquisition
• admonition
• ammunition
• apparition
• apposition
• coalition
• competition
• composition
• definition
• deglutition
• demolition