missionary position: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, Euphemistic
Quick answer
What does “missionary position” mean?
A sexual position where one partner lies on their back while the other lies on top, typically face-to-face.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sexual position where one partner lies on their back while the other lies on top, typically face-to-face.
A traditional or conventional sexual position, often used metonymically to refer to orthodox or conservative attitudes towards sex. In broader usage, it can metaphorically describe any conventional, predictable, or unadventurous approach.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The term is equally understood and used in both varieties.
Connotations
In both cultures, it often implies conventionality or lack of imagination in a sexual context. May be used humorously or pejoratively.
Frequency
Similar frequency of use in both varieties, primarily in adult or informal discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “missionary position” in a Sentence
[Subject] + prefer(s) + the + missionary positionThey + reverted to + the + missionary positionIt's + just + the + missionary positionVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in anthropological, sociological, or historical studies discussing sexuality, colonialism, or cultural norms.
Everyday
Used in informal conversations about sex, often humorously or to denote a lack of variety.
Technical
Used in sex therapy, sex education, and medical contexts as a clinical descriptor.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “missionary position”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “missionary position”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “missionary position”
- Incorrectly capitalising as 'Missionary Position'.
- Using it in overly formal contexts where a more clinical term (e.g., 'male-superior coitus') would be appropriate.
- Misspelling as 'missionairy position'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is not generally offensive, but it is a sexual euphemism. Its appropriateness depends entirely on context. It would be inappropriate in formal or non-intimate settings.
The term is widely believed to have originated from 20th-century Western observations (or stereotypes) that Christian missionaries promoted this position as the only morally acceptable one for procreation. However, this historical claim is debated by scholars.
Yes. In informal language, it can describe any approach deemed overly conventional, safe, or unadventurous (e.g., 'The company's marketing strategy is the missionary position of advertising').
There are descriptive phrases like 'man-on-top position', but 'missionary position' is a fixed cultural idiom with specific connotations that simple descriptions lack.
A sexual position where one partner lies on their back while the other lies on top, typically face-to-face.
Missionary position is usually informal, euphemistic in register.
Missionary position: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɪʃ.ən.ri pəˈzɪʃ.ən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɪʃ.ə.ner.i pəˈzɪʃ.ən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a very traditional, buttoned-up missionary preaching, then lying down in the most straightforward, face-to-face manner possible. The image links the conventional religious figure with the conventional sexual act.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONVENTIONAL IS MISSIONARY / ADVENTURE IS MOVEMENT AWAY FROM A CENTRAL POINT.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the term 'missionary position' be LEAST appropriate?