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Meaning & use

missive

noun·Advancedformalliterary

Last updated

UK/ˈmɪsɪv/
US/ˈmɪsɪv/

Meanings

  1. nouncountableformalhumorous

    A written message sent to someone, especially a letter that is formal or lengthy.

    Grammar: Countable; often used playfully for an email or note: she sent a missive.

    Patterns

    • a missive from someone
    • a missive to someone

    The king's missive arrived by horseback at dawn.

    She read the long missive from her landlord twice.

    He fired off an angry missive to the editor.

  2. nouncountableliterary

    Any official or ceremonial message, often delivered to a person or institution.

    Grammar: Often found in historical writing: a royal missive.

    Patterns

    • a royal missive

    A royal missive ordered the troops to withdraw.

    The ambassador received a missive from the court.

    The council posted the governor's missive on the town door.

Word forms

pluralmissives

Common combinations

send a missive
She sent a missive to the board outlining her concerns.
lengthy missive
His lengthy missive filled four pages.
angry missive
An angry missive from a customer landed in her inbox.
official missive
An official missive arrived from the ministry.
scribble a missive
He scribbled a quick missive and left it on the table.

Synonyms and how they differ

letter
Letter is the plain everyday word, while missive sounds formal, old-fashioned or playful.
message
Message can be spoken or written and is much broader than missive.
epistle
Epistle is even more formal and is often used for a long, serious letter, especially in the Bible.
dispatch
A dispatch is an official report sent quickly, usually from a distant place.

Word family

mission noun
a task that someone is sent to do
missile noun
a weapon that is sent through the air
emissary noun
a person sent with a message
dismiss verb
to send away
transmit verb
to send across

Commonly confused: missive or missile? missive or missal?

missive vs missile

A missile is a flying weapon or object, not a message, though the two words come from the same Latin root for sending.

missive vs missal

A missal is a book of prayers for Mass, spelled and pronounced differently.

Practice

The duke's ___ was sealed with wax and carried by a rider.

Make it your own

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