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 of messenger

• 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

WhatsApp remains my recommendation for an everyday messenger, given its vast user base and Signal encryption. —Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026

Elderberry Can Increase Cytokine Activity Cytokines are chemical messengers that help control your immune response. —Julie Scott, Verywell Health, 26 Jan. 2026

Hormones are chemical messengers that tell different parts of your body what to do and when to do it. —Rachel Reiff Ellis, SELF, 23 Jan. 2026

Universal Friend believed that God had chosen Jemima Wilkinson’s body to serve as the vessel to be his messenger of salvation. —Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026

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 vaccine
• 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