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 ultimately meanders, and while Evans is fine filling that rote Scrooge role of many Christmas movies past, Johnson lacks any of his usual easy charm. —Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 14 Nov. 2024

The Caracal can transport up to 28 troops, provide medical evacuations, and conduct combat search and rescue missions. —Paul Iddon, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024

More than 3 million people are without power and more than 100 rescue missions are underway Thursday in Florida after Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key last night as a Category 3 storm, generating tornadoes that left 4 people dead in St. Lucie County. —Greg Norman, Fox News, 10 Oct. 2024

One died during an evacuation and rescue mission with the International Committee of the Red Cross in the southern border village of Taibe. —Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1