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
Recent Examples on the Web
Tape recovered from the bags contained razor stubble with DNA from both Melanie and William McGuire, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
—
Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 1 Feb. 2026
Shortly after being assigned Porter’s case, Klein learned about fingernail clippings taken from the victim that were never tested for DNA.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2026
Precise placement is possible using DNA origami, which folds DNA into nanoscale shapes to guide molecules into position.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 31 Jan. 2026
San Diego’s Illumina is the world leader in gene sequencing technology — the ability to read and record DNA.
—Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for DNA
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 1 Feb. 2026
Shortly after being assigned Porter’s case, Klein learned about fingernail clippings taken from the victim that were never tested for DNA.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2026
Precise placement is possible using DNA origami, which folds DNA into nanoscale shapes to guide molecules into position.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 31 Jan. 2026
San Diego’s Illumina is the world leader in gene sequencing technology — the ability to read and record DNA.
—Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 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 3 Feb. 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
