messenger

noun

mes·​sen·​ger ˈme-sᵊn-jər 

1

: one who bears a message or does an errand: such as

a

archaic : forerunner, herald

b

: a dispatch bearer in government or military service

c

: an employee who carries messages

2

: a light line used in hauling a heavier line (as between ships)

3

: a substance (such as a hormone) that mediates a biological effect

4

: messenger rna

Synonyms

• courier
• express [British]
• go-between
• page
• runner

Examples of messenger in a Sentence

They sent a messenger to pick up the package.

the messenger comes by twice a day to pick up packages

Recent Examples on the Web

Gut hormones are chemical messengers made by special cells in the digestive tract that help control digestive functions. —Paul Von Zielbauer, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025

On June 9, after slipping into Cancer and your fifth house of love, passion and self-expression, the messenger planet will clash with taskmaster Saturn in your second house of finances and sense of self-worth. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 4 June 2025

But Verghese, of Stanford University, a physician who spoke of compassion, healing and of life’s brevity, was the chief messenger of sanity. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2025

But will Andrew Cuomo be the most effective messenger? —Stephen Eide, New York Daily News, 25 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English messangere, from Anglo-French messager, messanger, from message

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing messenger

• blame/shoot the messenger
• messenger bag
• messenger RNA
• messenger RNA vaccines

Kids Definition

messenger

noun

mes·​sen·​ger ˈmes-ᵊn-jər 

: one that carries a message or does an errand

Medical Definition

messenger

noun

mes·​sen·​ger ˈmes-ᵊn-jər 

1

: a substance (as a hormone) that mediates a biological effect see first messenger, second messenger

2

: messenger rna