Meanings
plural messenger RNAs
- countableuncountablebiochemistryRNA that encodes and carries information from DNA during transcription to sites of protein synthesis to undergo translation in order to yield a protein.
In the past, RNA did not get this kind of respect. The central dogma of biology has been that DNA makes messenger RNA, messenger RNA makes proteins, and proteins do everything else that needs to be done in a living cell.
2006 June 20, Nicholas Wade, “DNA or RNA? Versatile Player Takes a Leading Role in Molecular Research”, in The New York Times, →ISSNSynonyms: mRNA
Synonyms & antonyms
nounRNA that encodes and carries information from DNA during transcription to sites of protein synthesis to undergo translation in order to yield a protein.
More synonyms by meaning
nounthe template for protein synthesis; the form of RNA that carries information from DNA in the nucleus to the ribosome sites of protein synthesis in the cell
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Translations
Catalan ARN missatger
- ARN missatgerinformation carrying RNA
Chinese Mandarin 信使核糖核酸
- 信使核糖核酸 (xìnshǐ hétánghésuān)information carrying RNA
Finnish lähetti-rna
- lähetti-rnainformation carrying RNA
French ARN messager
- ARN messagerinformation carrying RNA
German Boten-RNA, Boten-RNS
- Boten-RNAinformation carrying RNA
- Boten-RNSinformation carrying RNA
- messenger-RNAinformation carrying RNA
Greek αγγελιοφόρο RNA
- αγγελιοφόρο RNA (angeliofóro RNA)information carrying RNA
Hungarian hírvivő RNS
- hírvivő RNSinformation carrying RNA
Italian RNA messaggero
- RNA messaggeroinformation carrying RNA
Japanese 伝令RNA
- 伝令RNA (denrei āru-enu-ē)information carrying RNA
Polish mRNA
- mRNAinformation carrying RNA
Spanish ARN mensajero
- ARN mensajeroinformation carrying RNA
Swedish budbärar-RNA
- budbärar-RNAinformation carrying RNA
Cite this entry
messenger RNA. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/messenger%20RNA
“messenger RNA.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/messenger%20RNA. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “messenger RNA,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/messenger%20RNA.
Source: messenger RNA on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.