organelle

noun

or·​gan·​elle ˌȯr-gə-ˈnel 

: 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

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

Word History

Etymology

New Latin organella, from Latin organum

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for organelle

• bagatelle
• caravel
• carousel
• carrousel
• citadel
• clientele
• commonweal
• decibel
• demoiselle
• fontanelle
• infidel
• isabel

Kids Definition

organelle

noun

or·​gan·​elle ˌȯr-gə-ˈnel 

: a structure (as a mitochondrion) in a cell that performs a special function

Medical Definition

organelle

noun

or·​gan·​elle ˌȯr-gə-ˈnel 

: a specialized cellular part (as a mitochondrion or nucleus) that has a specific function and is considered analogous to an organ