RNA

noun

ˌär-(ˌ)en-ˈā 

: any of various nucleic acids that contain ribose and uracil as structural components and are associated with the control of cellular chemical activities compare messenger rna, ribosomal rna, transfer rna

Examples of RNA in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The system builds on the success of AlphaFold 3, an advanced AI model released in 2024 that predicts the 3D structures and interactions of all life's molecules, including proteins, DNA and RNA. —Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 12 Feb. 2026

How do mRNA vaccines work? Messenger RNA, or mRNA, is a code that tells the body’s cells to produce just a piece of the virus, the protein on the surface. —Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026

Therein lies much of the mystery and magic of RNA. —Marlene Belfort, The Conversation, 10 Feb. 2026

Using single-cell RNA data from four additional mouse brains — including ones from male or female mice, and ones sliced from left to right or front to back — CellTransformer produced similar maps. —Amber Dance, Quanta Magazine, 9 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

ribonucleic acid

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing RNA

• messenger RNA
• messenger RNA vaccine
• messenger RNA vaccines
• micro-RNA
• ribosomal RNA
• RNA interference
• RNA polymerase
• RNA virus
• transfer RNA

Kids Definition

RNA

noun

ˌär-ˌen-ˈā 

: any of various nucleic acids that are typically found in the cytoplasm of cells, are usually composed of a single chain of nucleotides, differ from DNA in containing ribose as the five-carbon sugar instead of deoxyribose, and that function mostly in protein synthesis

called also ribonucleic acid

compare messenger rna, ribosomal rna, transfer rna

Medical Definition

RNA

noun

ˌär-ˌen-ˈā 

: any of various nucleic acids that contain ribose and uracil as structural components and are associated with the control of cellular chemical activities

called also ribonucleic acid

see messenger rna, ribosomal rna, transfer rna