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 whales were part of a complex international rescue mission aimed at saving 30 beluga whales following the closure of a marine park in Niagara Falls, Ontario. — Emily Hoerner, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory will reenter Earth's atmosphere in an uncontrolled fashion, after a robotic rescue mission failed to boost the scope to a higher orbit. — Leonard David, Space.com, 1 Nov. 2026

Reflect Orbital remains adamant that reflecting sunlight could be a game changer for solar power generation, aiding during search and rescue missions, and responding to natural disasters. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 28 Oct. 2026

SeaWorld Orlando said the company has helped more than 43,000 animals through its rescue mission. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 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