missionary

Everyday

1. (church) A missionary is a person sent by a church or religion to another place to spread their faith, and often to run schools, hospitals or help people in need. tree →
2. Missionary describes this work: missionary work, a missionary school. tree →
3. (figurative) With missionary zeal means with very strong, eager belief in an idea. tree →

In the lessons

In history and religious education lessons missionaries such as St Patrick, St Augustine of Canterbury, David Livingstone and many others travelled to share Christianity. Lessons note that missionaries built schools and hospitals, and that some missionary work was linked with empire and hurt local cultures. Phrases: «missionary work», «a missionary to», «missionary zeal».

Examples

• St Patrick was a missionary in Ireland. tree →
• David Livingstone was a Scottish missionary and explorer in Africa. tree →
• Her aunt does missionary work at a hospital in Uganda. tree →
• The missionaries started a school in the village. tree →
• Christians believe Jesus sent his followers out as missionaries. tree →
• He talked about recycling with missionary zeal. tree →
• The sisters were savages who had never seen a missionary. tree →

Note

Plural «missionaries». Related: «mission» (a task or a church base). Missionaries exist in several religions, though the word is most often about Christians. Describe history fairly: good and harmful effects were both real.