ˈmɪʃəˌneri
British ˈmɪʃənri
plural missionaries
: a person who is sent to a foreign country to do religious work (such as to convince people to join a religion or to help people who are sick, poor, etc.)
a Christian missionary
always used before a noun
1
: of or relating to missionaries
missionary work
a missionary school
2
: very enthusiastic and eager about doing a job or supporting a cause
He spoke with missionary zeal about the project. [=he spoke with great enthusiasm about the project]
Cite this Entry
“Missionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/missionary. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.
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