mission: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal to neutral; common in business, military, religious, and academic contexts.
Quick answer
What does “mission” mean?
An important task or duty assigned to a person or group, often with a specific purpose or goal.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An important task or duty assigned to a person or group, often with a specific purpose or goal.
1) A specific task or duty assigned to a person or group, especially involving travel. 2) An organization's long-term aim or purpose. 3) A diplomatic or military operation. 4) A religious or humanitarian assignment to spread beliefs or provide aid. 5) In aviation, a specific flight operation. 6) A building or compound for religious work, especially in historical contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In US English, 'mission' is heavily used for military/diplomatic operations and corporate purpose statements. In UK English, slightly more common in religious/historical contexts (e.g., 'Mission house'), though overlaps significantly. 'Mission statement' is slightly more frequent in US corporate jargon.
Connotations
Similar core connotations in both varieties. US usage has a stronger association with space exploration (NASA missions) and special military forces (Navy SEAL mission).
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to wider application in business and government.
Grammar
How to Use “mission” in a Sentence
be/go on a mission to [VERB]have/set/assign/give a missionaccomplish/complete/fail a missionmission of [NOUN] (e.g., mission of mercy)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mission” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The charity missions to provide aid in conflict zones.
- He was missioned to gather intelligence.
American English
- The group was missioned to assess the damage.
- She missions abroad twice a year for her work.
adverb
British English
- The team worked mission-driven to meet the deadline.
- He spoke mission-focused about the project.
American English
- They acted mission-oriented throughout the crisis.
- The report was written mission-specifically.
adjective
British English
- The mission control centre monitored the launch.
- They reviewed the mission parameters carefully.
American English
- The mission specialist prepared for the spacewalk.
- Their mission-critical software failed.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to a company's core purpose and goals ('our mission is to innovate'). Often found in 'mission statement'.
Academic
Used in history/political science for diplomatic or military objectives. In linguistics/anthropology, for fieldwork expeditions.
Everyday
Refers to an important personal task or goal ('my mission today is to tidy the garage').
Technical
In aviation/space: a specific flight operation. In computing: a critical task for a system or program.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mission”
- Using 'mission' for routine, unimportant tasks (overuse). Confusing 'mission' with 'vision' (mission = what we do now; vision = future goal). Misspelling as 'mision'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A 'mission' describes an organization's present purpose and core activities (what it does and why it exists now). A 'vision' describes its future aspiration or desired long-term impact (where it wants to be).
Yes, but it is less common and often used in formal, military, or organizational contexts (e.g., 'He was missioned to oversee the operation'). The noun form is far more frequent.
Not exclusively. While it often implies importance and difficulty, it can be used humorously or lightly for determined personal tasks (e.g., 'My mission is to find the best pizza in town').
It comes from the Latin 'missio', meaning 'a sending away' or 'dispatch', from the verb 'mittere' (to send). It entered English in the mid-16th century via French, initially in a religious context.
An important task or duty assigned to a person or group, often with a specific purpose or goal.
Mission is usually formal to neutral; common in business, military, religious, and academic contexts. in register.
Mission: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɪʃ.ən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɪʃ.ən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “mission accomplished”
- “a man/woman on a mission”
- “mission impossible”
- “mission critical”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MISS I ON a task: Imagine you MISS being ON an important task or duty.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A MISSION (e.g., 'He approached life with a sense of mission'). A JOURNEY/PURPOSE (the mission provides direction and destination).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase BEST describes a company's 'mission statement'?