Illustration of DNA
- A molecular model
- 1 hydrogen
- 2 oxygen
- 3 carbon in the helical phosphate ester chains
- 4 carbon and nitrogen in the cross-linked purine and pyrimidine bases
- 5 phosphorus
- B double helix
DNA
noun
: any of various nucleic acids that are usually the molecular basis of heredity, are constructed of a double helix held together by hydrogen bonds between purine and pyrimidine bases (see base entry 1 sense 6b) which project inward from two chains containing alternate links of deoxyribose and phosphate, and that in eukaryotes are localized chiefly in cell nuclei compare recombinant dna
Examples of DNA in a Sentence
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Now, the juxtapositions that are so key to Charli’s style DNA manifest in Anthony Vaccarello’s current athleisure-meets-lingerie looks.
—
Alice Newbold, Vogue, 12 Jan. 2026
Researchers are also banking DNA, creating a kind of reef edition of Noah’s Ark.
—Susan Casey, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
The broad strokes have been well-known — the ticking of a woman’s biological clock increases risk of miscarriage and infertility, often caused by eggs with the wrong number of chromosomes, the structures that carry DNA.
—Carolyn Y. Johnson, Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2026
But slowing down was built into the DNA of Rental Family.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 8 Jan. 2026
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Alice Newbold, Vogue, 12 Jan. 2026
Researchers are also banking DNA, creating a kind of reef edition of Noah’s Ark.
—Susan Casey, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
The broad strokes have been well-known — the ticking of a woman’s biological clock increases risk of miscarriage and infertility, often caused by eggs with the wrong number of chromosomes, the structures that carry DNA.
—Carolyn Y. Johnson, Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2026
But slowing down was built into the DNA of Rental Family.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for DNA
Cite this Entry
“DNA.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/DNA. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
DNA
noun
: any of various nucleic acids that are located especially in cell nuclei, are usually the chemical basis of heredity, and are composed of two nucleotide chains held together by hydrogen bonds in a pattern resembling a flexible twisted ladder compare rna
Medical Definition
DNA
noun
: any of various nucleic acids that are usually the molecular basis of heredity, are constructed of a double helix held together by hydrogen bonds between purine and pyrimidine bases which project inward from two chains containing alternate links of deoxyribose and phosphate, and that in eukaryotes are localized chiefly in cell nuclei
called also deoxyribonucleic acid
see recombinant dnaLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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