messenger

noun

mes·​sen·​ger ˈme-sᵊn-jər 

1

: one who bears a message or does an errand: such as

a

archaic : forerunner, herald

b

: a dispatch bearer in government or military service

c

: an employee who carries messages

2

: a light line used in hauling a heavier line (as between ships)

3

: a substance (such as a hormone) that mediates a biological effect

4

: messenger rna

Synonyms

• courier
• runner

Examples of messenger in a Sentence

They sent a messenger to pick up the package.

the messenger comes by twice a day to pick up packages

Recent Examples on the Web

Goodall launched the Jane Goodall Institute and became a UN messenger of peace during her lifetime. —Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025

The Party has failed to find both a singular message and messenger, Jon Allsop argues in his latest column. —Erin Neil, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2025

Zaynn Arora as the boy messenger (Eric Williams in alternate performances) who delivers the news of Godot’s postponement is suitably fragile, fearful and haunting. —Frank Rizzo, Variety, 29 Sep. 2025

Most release chemical messengers known as neurotransmitters, which travel across the tiny gaps known as synapses and dock onto cuplike proteins called receptors on the next neuron. —Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 29 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English messangere, from Anglo-French messager, messanger, from message

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing messenger

• blame/shoot the messenger
• messenger bag
• messenger RNA
• messenger RNA vaccines

Kids Definition

messenger

noun

mes·​sen·​ger ˈmes-ᵊn-jər 

: one that carries a message or does an errand

Medical Definition

messenger

noun

mes·​sen·​ger ˈmes-ᵊn-jər 

1

: a substance (as a hormone) that mediates a biological effect see first messenger, second messenger

2

: messenger rna