ribosomal RNA

noun

: RNA that is a fundamental structural element of ribosomes

called also rRNA

Examples of ribosomal RNA in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This stretch of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is identical across every other animal that’s been studied, so the deviation jumped out at Han. — Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 29 July 2026

Then there's ribosomal RNA (rRNA) that creates ribosomes vital for producing proteins, and finally transfer RNA (tRNA) that does the actual synthesizing of the proteins from mRNA. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 5 Jan. 2026

In these studies, researchers can determine whether genetic material belongs to bacteria though a biomarker called the 16s ribosomal RNA gene, which turns up only in microbes. — Robert Lee Hotz, WSJ, 21 Dec. 2020

Archaea, eukaryotes, and eubacteria all have ribosomes, so ribosomal RNA is good for comparing different organisms. — Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ribosomal RNA

noun

ri·​bo·​som·​al RNA

ˌrī-bə-ˈsō-məl-

: an RNA that is one of the structural elements of ribosomes

called also rRNA

Medical Definition

ribosomal RNA

noun

: RNA that is a fundamental structural element of ribosomes

called also rRNA