organelle

noun

or·​gan·​elle ˌȯr-gə-ˈnel How to pronounce organelle (audio)
: 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
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These organelles divide by splitting in two, as bacteria do, and cannot be formed anew if absent in daughter cells, indicating that the host cell lacks the necessary genetic instructions to produce them. Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 June 2026 The presence of degraded mitochondria and lysosomes in lipofuscin supports the notion that aging begins with the breakdown of these two organelles, leading to irreversible damage in non-dividing cells such as neurons. Kristel Tjandra, Hartford Courant, 5 June 2026 Wada had begun experimenting with chloroplast motion back in the 1990s by looking into how the organelles move or anchor themselves by sprouting cytoskeletal fibers, including actin and microtubules. Quanta Magazine, 4 May 2026 Converging lines of biophysical and biochemical evidence have led researchers to focus on mitochondria, the energy-producing organelles found in most cells of the body. Lynne Peeples, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for organelle

Word History

Etymology

New Latin organella, from Latin organum

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of organelle was in 1915

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Organelle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/organelle. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

organelle

noun
or·​gan·​elle ˌȯr-gə-ˈnel How to pronounce organelle (audio)
: a structure (as a mitochondrion) in a cell that performs a special function

Medical Definition

organelle

noun
or·​gan·​elle ˌȯr-gə-ˈnel How to pronounce organelle (audio)
: a specialized cellular part (as a mitochondrion or nucleus) that has a specific function and is considered analogous to an organ

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