Pronunciation: [mˈɪʃənəɹi] (IPA) 
The word "missionary" is spelled with a double "s" in the middle, despite it being pronounced as "zh" sound. This is because the double "s" represents the sound "sh". In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is spelled /ˈmɪʃ.ən.ər.i/, with the "sh" sound represented by the "ʃ" symbol. The word refers to a person who is sent on a religious or humanitarian mission, often to a foreign country.
A missionary, in a religious context, refers to an individual who is sent by a religious organization or institution to propagate religious teachings, beliefs, and values among people of different cultures, regions, or religions. The primary aim of a missionary is to spread the message of their faith, often with the objective of converting individuals to their religious practices or ideologies.
Missionaries are typically recognized for their active efforts in establishing religious communities, building places of worship, organizing services, and conducting educational and humanitarian work. Many missionaries take on a variety of roles within their chosen field, such as teachers, pastors, healthcare workers, or aid workers, depending on the specific needs of the community they serve.
Their work often involves engaging in dialogue with individuals from diverse religious backgrounds, fostering understanding and collaboration, and addressing the spiritual, social, and practical needs of the communities they serve. Missionaries often reside within the community they are working with, dedicating themselves to understanding local customs, languages, and cultures to better connect with the people and inspire change.
The term "missionary" carries connotations of selflessness, dedication, and a calling to serve others in the name of faith. While some view missionaries as positive figures who bring spiritual and material assistance to individuals in need, others criticize their intentions, accusing them of cultural imperialism or forcefully imposing their beliefs on different cultures or societies.
• Pert. to missions.
• One sent to preach the Gospel to the heathen or the poor; one labouring to spread the Gospel, especially among a neglected population, in connection with some church or society.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "missionary" derives from the Latin word "missionarius", which has its roots in the term "missio". In Latin, "missio" means "sending" or "dismissal". The word "missionarius" originally referred to individuals who were sent on a religious mission or purpose, typically by the Catholic Church. Over time, the term "missionary" came to be used more broadly to describe individuals who were sent to propagate or spread a particular ideology, belief system, or cause.
