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 rescue mission will prioritize locating those presumed alive, Suharyanto said, but the bodies of the victims will be recovered in due time. —Helen Regan, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025

From Andalusia to Istanbul, her journey becomes a daring rescue mission across land and sea, exploring exile, faith and identity. —Ben Croll, Variety, 29 Sep. 2025

The study also noted that accidents and rescue missions increased by more than 60 percent during the study period, due to the increasing popularity of the activity. —Owen Clarke, Outside, 29 Sep. 2025

Now, the road trip turns into a rescue mission for Gabby and the crew. —Devonne Goode, Parents, 25 Sep. 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