nucleotide
noun
nu·cle·o·tide
ˈnü-klē-ə-ˌtīd 
ˈnyü-
: any of several compounds that consist of a ribose or deoxyribose sugar joined to a purine or pyrimidine base and to a phosphate group and that are the basic structural units of nucleic acids (such as RNA and DNA) compare nucleoside
Examples of nucleotide in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Then, in 1984, a British geneticist named Alec Jeffreys discovered DNA fingerprinting, which allowed scientists to take a sample of hair, skin, or saliva and single out a sequence of nucleotides specific to one person.
—
Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
This can also include the concentration of nucleotides coming from a living species, which can vary.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 16 Aug. 2025
For example, there are 10^623 different ways to combine nucleotides in mRNA to encode for the same protein as the company’s COVID vaccine, Davis said.
—Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Using quantum algorithms based on ones IBM had previously developed for financial problems, the two companies were able to successfully predict the structure of an mRNA sequence that was about 60 nucleotides long, which is at the upper limit of what a conventional computer can do.
—Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
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Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
This can also include the concentration of nucleotides coming from a living species, which can vary.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 16 Aug. 2025
For example, there are 10^623 different ways to combine nucleotides in mRNA to encode for the same protein as the company’s COVID vaccine, Davis said.
—Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Using quantum algorithms based on ones IBM had previously developed for financial problems, the two companies were able to successfully predict the structure of an mRNA sequence that was about 60 nucleotides long, which is at the upper limit of what a conventional computer can do.
—Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for nucleotide
Cite this Entry
“Nucleotide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nucleotide. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nucleotide
noun
nu·cle·o·tide
ˈn(y)ü-klē-ə-ˌtīd
: any of the basic units of structure of DNA or RNA that consist of a base (as adenine, cytosine, guanine, or thymine) joined to a sugar (as deoxyribose) with five carbon atoms in a molecule and to a phosphate group
Medical Definition
nucleotide
noun
nu·cle·o·tide
ˈn(y)ü-klē-ə-ˌtīd
: any of several compounds that consist of a ribose or deoxyribose sugar joined to a purine or pyrimidine base and to a phosphate group and that are the basic structural units of RNA and DNA compare nucleoside
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