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 sculpture focuses on the children of the Holocaust, specifically those who were on the Kindertransport, a rescue mission that saved thousands. —Jessica Tzikas, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026

Geoffroy van Raemdonck and team are on a rescue mission. —Footwear News, 14 Jan. 2026

Robert Stiles, the deputy sector commander of Coast Guard Sector San Juan who coordinated the search and rescue mission, hailed the outcome in a press statement. —David Chiu, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026

Every search-and-rescue mission begins with an investigation. —Paige Williams, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 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