foreign mission
Noun: 1. A permanent diplomatic mission headed by a minister: A formal, long-term diplomatic office established in a foreign country, led by a diplomatic representative of a lower rank than an ambassador. 2. An organization of missionaries in a foreign land sent to carry on religious work: A group or body of religious workers sent to a foreign country to conduct evangelism, education, or charitable activities.
- The country established a foreign mission to handle consular affairs and foster trade relations.
- She was appointed to serve at the foreign mission in the capital city.
- The church funded a foreign mission to provide medical aid and build schools in the remote region.
- He devoted his life to the foreign mission, working to translate religious texts into the local language.
- The term can be used metonymically to refer to the physical building or compound housing such a diplomatic or religious organization.
- Protesters gathered outside the foreign mission to deliver a petition.
- In historical contexts, it often specifically references the activities and outposts of Christian missionary societies during the colonial era.
- Mission (n): The core word, meaning a specific task or duty, a group sent to perform a task, or a ministry. "Foreign" specifies the location.
- Diplomatic mission (n): A more general term for any diplomatic representation abroad, which includes embassies (headed by ambassadors) and legations (headed by ministers).
- Legation (n): A diplomatic mission headed by a minister, synonymous with the first definition of "foreign mission."
- Missionary post/station (n): A specific local outpost of a religious foreign mission.
- For the diplomatic sense: legation, diplomatic delegation.
- For the religious sense: missionary society, missionary organization, evangelistic mission.
- To head a foreign mission: To be the leader in charge of the mission.
- He was chosen to head the foreign mission due to his extensive experience.
- To be sent on a foreign mission: To be dispatched to work for such an organization abroad.
- After years of training, the volunteers were sent on a foreign mission.
The word has two distinct primary meanings, one in the secular domain of international relations and the other in the domain of religious outreach. The intended meaning is almost always clear from the context (e.g., discussions of treaties vs. discussions of evangelism). In modern diplomatic terminology, the term "embassy" (headed by an ambassador) is more common than "foreign mission" (headed by a minister), making the religious meaning frequently more prevalent in contemporary usage.
- a permanent diplomatic mission headed by a minister
- an organization of missionaries in a foreign land sent to carry on religious work