mission
mis·sion/ˈmɪʃ.ən/noun, verb
mission is spelled M-I-S-S-I-O-N: 7 letters and 2 syllables (mis·sion). It appears 74 times per million words in written English, the 1,427th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, mission means “A set of tasks that fulfills a purpose or duty; an assignment set by an employer, or by oneself” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of mission is missions.
How many letters and syllables are in mission?
| Letters | 7: M-I-S-S-I-O-N |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: mis·sion |
| In writing | 74 times per million words; the 1,427th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is mission?
Mission appears 74 times per million words in written English, the 1,427th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce mission?
- /ˈmɪʃ.ən/
Mission has 2 syllables, split mis·sion in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-mission.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with mission
Also written: mish.
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of mission
- missions plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- missioning participle, present
- missioned participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does mission mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A set of tasks that fulfills a purpose or duty; an assignment set by an employer, or by oneself.
- 2
A important goal or purpose; an objective.
- 3
A missionary expedition.
- 4
Third World charities, particularly those which preach as well as provide aid.
- 5
An infrequent gathering of religious believers in a parish, usually part of a larger regional event with a central theme.
- 6
A number of people appointed to perform any service; a delegation; an embassy.
- 7
obsoleteDismissal; discharge from service
- 8
A settlement or building serving as a base for missionary work.
Many cities across the Americas grew from Spanish missions.
verb
- 1
To send on a mission.
- 2
To do missionary work, proselytize.
- 3
To undertake an arduous or long task that requires substantial effort.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
How do you abbreviate mission?
Wiktionary records one abbreviation of mission: mish.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Mission in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense set of tasks that fulfills a purpose:
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does mission come from?
Learned borrowing from Latin missiō, missiōnem (“a sending, sending away, dispatching, discharging, release, remission, cessation”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).