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 researchers say most existing unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) used in search-and-rescue missions are built mainly to locate or approach people in distress. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 24 July 2026

The body of a woman was recovered off the coast at Moruca around an hour after the rescue mission resumed on Monday morning. — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026

The team, led by the calm and collected Julius Pollard, are fantastic, fun, and, if nature dictates, will readily break into an impromptu turtle rescue mission—as happened on my recent trip. — Jonnie Bayfield, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026

In 2016, Jugend Rettet purchased the vessel for approximately €130,000, renamed it Iuventa, and refitted it for search-and-rescue missions. — Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 17 July 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