organelle

noun

or·​gan·​elle ˌȯr-gə-ˈnel How to pronounce organelle (audio)
: a specialized cellular part (such as a mitochondrion, chloroplast, or nucleus) that has a specific function and is considered analogous to an organ

Examples of organelle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Casey Means, President Donald Trump’s newest nominee for surgeon general, has singled out the organelle as the main casualty of the modern American health crisis. Hannah Seo, The Atlantic, 10 June 2025 An organelle, not a symbiote All of these properties—the coordinated replication, the biochemical specialization, the existence of a system for importing proteins—are features of organelles, not endosymbiosis. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 11 Apr. 2024 Just as our bodies have organs that carry out specific functions to keep us healthy and alive, each of our cells have tiny structures known as organelles that do the same. New Atlas, 26 June 2025 But scientists are increasingly discovering that these small organelles do much more than just power cells. Andrew Monteith, The Conversation, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for organelle

Word History

Etymology

New Latin organella, from Latin organum

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of organelle was in 1915

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Organelle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/organelle. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

organelle

noun
or·​gan·​elle ˌȯr-gə-ˈnel How to pronounce organelle (audio)
: a structure (as a mitochondrion) in a cell that performs a special function

Medical Definition

organelle

noun
or·​gan·​elle ˌȯr-gə-ˈnel How to pronounce organelle (audio)
: a specialized cellular part (as a mitochondrion or nucleus) that has a specific function and is considered analogous to an organ

More from Merriam-Webster on organelle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!