missive

noun

mis·​sive ˈmi-siv 

: a written communication : letter

wrote a lengthy missive to her father

Synonyms of missive

• letter
• epistle

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

The beginning of this short but deeply human missive indicts the racial politics of the era and the shameful legacy of slavery. —Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026

The missive, penned in September of that year, was addressed to one of her school friends, Katherine Hanbury. —Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 24 May 2026

The script, which Sachs co-wrote with his regular collaborator Mauricio Zacharias, has no interest in overexplaining its milieu or serving as an anthropological missive from the past, which is admirable. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 20 May 2026

The day the missive was delivered, organizers additionally filed for an election with the National Labor Relations Board. —News Desk, Artforum, 18 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

circa 1553, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for missive

• derisive
• dismissive
• emissive
• permissive
• submissive
• transmissive

Kids Definition

missive

noun

mis·​sive ˈmis-iv 

: letter entry 1 sense 2, message