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 a video from the rescue mission shared on X, the aircrew is seen deploying a rescue swimmer, who swiftly swims to the disabled vessel and helps each boater to the helicopter's lift. —Hunter Geisel, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025

Biffle and Mitchell were friends who conducted rescue missions after Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina and sometimes posted videos together. —Devon M. Sayers, CNN Money, 18 Dec. 2025

Warren balances her animal rescue mission with the joy and pain and frustration and elation that comes with songwriting. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025

Michael Wurster, the Coast Guard Sector New Orleans search and rescue mission coordinator, said in a statement. —Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 1 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