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

For people who have been pushing for trade reform for years — including Bayard Winthrop, chief executive officer of Made in U.S.A brand American Giant — Trump is an imperfect messenger, delivering a message that nonetheless needs to be heard. —Evan Clark, WWD, 16 Jan. 2025

In the meantime, for Android and iPhone users who would rather send RCS texts from their stock messengers than adopt an over-the-top platform such as Signal or WhatsApp as the U.S. government advises, this will be welcome news. —Zak Doffman, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025

Some of these messengers can boost health, others can hinder it. —Maria Godoy, NPR, 10 Jan. 2025

And don’t kill the messenger, but …: Another winter storm is possible this weekend. —Cate Martel, The Hill, 6 Jan. 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