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
• 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

Businesses that adopted the telephone could respond faster, close deals quicker, and build relationships that would have been impossible by mail or messenger. —Allbusiness, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025

To communicate with students, staff can use Class Dojo, JCPS district email accounts, Infinite Campus messenger, Google Workspace for Education, Microsoft for Education and Apptegy rooms and alerts, according to an email sent from JCPS to families. —Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 3 Aug. 2025

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) accused Trump of shooting the messenger. —Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 1 Aug. 2025

The medications increase levels of serotonin, a chemical messenger in the brain that can improve mood. —Aria Bendix, NBC news, 21 July 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