missionaries
n. countable B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈmɪʃəˌnɛɹiz// UK //mˈɪʃənəɹiz// mis·sion·ar·ies
n. people who travel to a different place or country to teach others about their religion.
n. individuals sent by a religious organisation to a foreign area to perform proselytisation or humanitarian work.
The missionaries built a new school in the village.
During the nineteenth century, many missionaries traveled from Europe to Africa to establish churches and medical clinics.
The historical impact of missionaries is often debated, as their work frequently combined genuine humanitarian aid with the systematic displacement of indigenous cultural and spiritual practices.
Usage
Usually used in the plural to refer to a group or a general movement.