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Glite Dictionary
🚴 A delivery person 💬 A chat app
messenger

messenger

31 2.8
An app that lets you send and receive texts, voice notes and photos
  • noun
  • /ˈmɛsɪndʒər/
  • Texting
translation icon : aplicación de mensajería
  • Some people prefer to cut to communicate via maybe Facebook Messenger, maybe Instagram messenger.
  • an instant messenger
  • MSN Messenger

All of my friends use WhatsApp, Hangouts, Facebook Messenger, or WeChat.

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Examples

  • Yes, OK, during the summit, she sent me a message on messenger telling me that we can connect after the summit.

  • OK, so I know we have Google Messenger on my phone.

  • I did not have Internet at home, and school does not allow Messenger.

    Academic text (2013)

  • So right now we're only using live Messenger contacts as part of the tool.

  • There is now a secure and encrypted messenger from Hushmail.

    Academic text (2004)

  • It became Facebook Messenger, so they won't tell you that.

    Double Eagle Ranch (2018)

  • You know how your socials and messengers get lost in all those tabs?

  • I use Messenger to keep in touch with my friends throughout the week.

  • She prefers Messenger for sharing photos and videos with her family.

  • Many people find Messenger convenient for sending quick text messages while on the go.

Idioms

to shoot the messenger
3 7.8

Blame or punish the person who brings bad news instead of fixing the problem

Compounds

messenger boy
  • Archaic
6 2.3

A boy who delivers messages and does small jobs for a business

messenger RNA
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A molecule that carries gene instructions from the cell nucleus to ribosomes to make proteins

divine messenger
  • Literature
1 9.2

A being sent by God or a god to give messages to people

How Feature-Rich

messenger
  • Texting
31 2.8
messaging
  • Texting
44 2.6
chat
  • Informal
312 1.0

Surface Forms

messenger singular
messengers plural

Morphology

messenger = message (semi-transparent) = message + er

The app sense extends the human 'messenger' metaphor to digital communication, which is still recognizable but more specialized.

Etymology

Messenger still keeps that old idea: it comes from message and the root meaning 'to send', like in mission. That's why we also call phone or computer apps messengers — they 'send' and 'carry' messages between people.