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

Trump has been, perhaps, the most discordant messenger of the administration when discussing Iran. — Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Before they’re introduced at the meeting, Lowen and Jeremy have what amounts to a gruesome meet-cute on the street, when a bike messenger gets mowed down by a car in front of them and Jeremy lends Lowen his shirt because she’s covered in blood. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026

Riz Ahmed plays Ganesh, the close scientific adviser to Digger who is actually rooted in the real world, and therefore has to be the messenger of bad news. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026

Acetylcholine is a key neurotransmitter – a chemical messenger in the brain – involved in attention, learning, memory and information processing. — Hasmeena Kathuria, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 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

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