organelle

noun

or·​gan·​elle ˌȯr-gə-ˈnel 

: a specialized cellular part (such as a mitochondrion, chloroplast, or nucleus) that has a specific function and is considered analogous to an organ

Examples of organelle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And often the organelles, like the mitochondria that are present in the cytoplasm, will rupture. —Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 5 Dec. 2024

Scientists had previously tried transferring plant chloroplasts into fungi cells, but the cells’ cleanup squad destroyed foreign organelles within hours. —Saugat Bolakhe, Scientific American, 7 Jan. 2025

In fact, the hallmark of this cell death is that there’s very open chromatin, and then organelles, rather than waiting till the end of the death process to exhibit defects, right from the beginning tend to swell. —Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 5 Dec. 2024

To synthesize amino acids, the organelles must divert molecules that would otherwise go toward making ATP, potentially reducing the cell’s production of energy. —Bymitch Leslie, science.org, 8 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin organella, from Latin organum

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for organelle

• bagatelle
• caravel
• carousel
• carrousel
• citadel
• clientele
• commonweal
• decibel
• demoiselle
• fontanelle
• infidel
• isabel

Kids Definition

organelle

noun

or·​gan·​elle ˌȯr-gə-ˈnel 

: a structure (as a mitochondrion) in a cell that performs a special function

Medical Definition

organelle

noun

or·​gan·​elle ˌȯr-gə-ˈnel 

: a specialized cellular part (as a mitochondrion or nucleus) that has a specific function and is considered analogous to an organ