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 of messenger

• 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

Resolutions passed on immigration and political violence Later Wednesday, SBC messengers approved a resolutions denouncing political violence and hateful speech. —Peter Smith, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026

More than 11,000 delegates, known as messengers, were attending. —ABC News, 10 June 2026

Should a two-thirds majority of SBC messengers vote to approve the amendment, denominational procedures require that it be reintroduced next year and again garner a two-thirds majority in order to be adopted. —Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 8 June 2026

There’s a level of honesty that these two share with one another that can be delivered and hit because of who the messenger is. —James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 3 June 2026

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 vaccine
• 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