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

The intention is to facilitate navigation, but also to help ensure the ability to provide flood mitigation and allow for search and rescue missions. —Paula Wethington, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026

After filing a public records request, Politico found out that search and rescue missions were up 40 percent in Yosemite between the months of January and July, when compared to 2024 numbers. —Gavin Feek, Outside, 31 Dec. 2025

Biffle, an experienced pilot, took the lead on several rescue missions during Hurricane Helene — providing supplies to communities in need. —Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 30 Dec. 2025

The Mwananchi newspaper and East Africa TV, citing Kilimanjaro region's head of police, reported that the helicopter was on a medical rescue mission. —Reuters, USA Today, 25 Dec. 2025

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