What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
missary
Example
The president sent a missary to negotiate a peace treaty. [missary: noun]
Example
The company's missary was responsible for delivering the package to the client. [missary: adjective]
emissary
Example
The pope sent an emissary to meet with the leaders of the other faiths. [emissary: noun]
Example
The CEO's emissary delivered the news to the employees. [emissary: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Missary is less commonly used than emissary in everyday language. Missary is more specific to military and diplomatic contexts, while emissary is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between missary and emissary?
Both missary and emissary are formal words that are typically used in professional or academic settings.