message

1 of 2

noun

mes·​sage ˈme-sij 

1

: a communication in writing, in speech, or by signals

Please take this message for me to my friend.

2

: a messenger's mission

The girl will go on a message to the shop.

—Cahir Healy

3

: an underlying theme or idea

The message is that it is time to change.

—The Economist

4

: an official position (as of a political party)

Their candidate's speech was on/off message. [=included things that did/did not conform to the party's official position]

message

2 of 2

verb

messaged; messaging

transitive verb

1

: to send as a message or by messenger

2

: to send a message to

intransitive verb

: to communicate by message

Phrases

get the message

: understand something that is not being said directly

When she didn't return my phone calls, I finally got the message. [=finally understood that she did not want to talk to me]

Synonyms of message

Noun

• dispatch
• letter
• communication
• report

Examples of message in a Sentence

Noun

Did you get my message?

She has received messages of support from hundreds of people.

I left a message on her answering machine.

He's not here right now. Can I take a message?

I liked the story but I didn't really agree with the book's message.

He believed in the church's message of forgiveness.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

What was the Folignos’ message after Jennifer’s death? —Joe Smith, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025

The restaurant, which opened in 2015, had run into a couple of hurdles, co-owner Dan Watts said in a message. —Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 1 Dec. 2025

Verb

Impersonation scams are perpetrated in a wide variety of ways—by phone, email, text, or even by messaging you on social media. —Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025

The pictures and messaging within this book affirm that the gold chains, Kangol hats, nameplate necklaces, baby-fros, sneakers, and custom jackets weren’t just accessories, but rather statements of being. —Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 21 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin missaticum, from Latin missus, past participle of mittere

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1582, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing message

• error message
• message board
• off message
• on message
• short message service
• text message

Rhymes for message

• presage
• expressage

Kids Definition

message

noun

mes·​sage

ˈmes-ij

1

: a communication in writing, in speech, or by signals

2

: a messenger's errand or function

3

: an underlying theme or idea

Etymology

Noun

Middle English message "job or function of a messenger," from early French message (same meaning), from Latin missaticum "something given to a messenger to deliver," from earlier missus (past participle of mittere "to send, throw") and -aticum "action, result" — related to emit, mission, promise, submissive