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

Thailand’s Foreign Ministry said Friday that the Iranian and Omani authorities were able to reach the Mayuree Naree on a rescue mission as three sailors remain unaccounted for. —Sean Nevin, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2026

Andrew Williams, search and rescue mission coordinator with the Coast Guard Sector Honolulu, said in a statement. —Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026

Josh Duhamel is the Coast Guard captain leading the rescue mission as the victims face dehydration, hypothermia and other marine dangers. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026

For the team at Animal Humane Society, rescue missions are one of the most effective ways to help. —Derek James, CBS News, 16 Mar. 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