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

Antibody testing was linked to RNA confirmation on the same blood sample. — William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Martin and his colleagues think that LUCA already possessed such an encoding system in the form of nucleic acids much like modern DNA or RNA, as well as the molecular machinery to translate it to proteins. — Philip Ball, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026

Zoom in closely enough, and instead of streets and buildings, there are proteins and strands of RNA and DNA. — Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 18 Aug. 2026

However, for applications other than vaccines, a cleaner RNA product is necessary to reduce side effects. — Li Li, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

ribonucleic acid

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing RNA

• messenger RNA
• messenger RNA vaccine
• 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