message

[mes-ij]

noun

1. a communication containing some information, news, advice, request, or the like, sent by messenger, telephone, email, or other means.

2. an official communication, as from a chief executive to a legislative body.

   the president's message to Congress.

3. Digital Technology.,  a post or reply on an online message board.

4. the inspired utterance of a prophet or sage.

5. the point, moral, or meaning of a gesture, utterance, novel, motion picture, etc.

6. Computers.,  a warning, permission, etc., communicated by the system or software to the user.

   an error message;

   a message to allow blocked content.

verb (used without object)

1. to send a message, especially an electronic message.

verb (used with object)

1. to send (a person) a message.

2. to send as a message.

message

/ ˈmɛsɪdʒ /

noun

1. a communication, usually brief, from one person or group to another

2. an implicit meaning or moral, as in a work of art

3. a formal communiqué

4. an inspired communication of a prophet or religious leader

5. a mission; errand

6. (plural) shopping

   going for the messages

7. informal,  to understand what is meant

verb

1. (tr) to send as a message, esp to signal (a plan, etc)

Other Word Forms

• intermessage noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of message¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin missāticum (unrecorded), equivalent to Latin miss(us) “sent” (past participle of mittere “to send”) + -āticum -age

Word History and Origins

Origin of message¹

C13: from Old French, from Vulgar Latin missāticum (unattested) something sent, from Latin missus, past participle of mittere to send

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. get the message, to understand or comprehend, especially to infer the correct meaning from circumstances, hints, etc..

   If we don't invite him to the party, maybe he'll get the message.

see get the message.

Example Sentences

It doesn’t help that students are hearing mixed messages about AI.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

And his message for young people at risk of being radicalised?

Read more on BBC

He addressed a Christmas Day social-media message to the 37 men: “I refuse to wish a Merry Christmas to those lucky ‘souls’ but, instead, will say, GO TO HELL!”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The message is clear: China has the capacity to hurt the tech firms that have led the stock market to recent records.

Read more on Barron's

The new generation of so-called “agentic AI” would be more prescriptive and could automatically turn those insights into actions such as adjusting prices, reordering products, or tailoring marketing messages, said Chen.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• directive 
• information 
• letter 
• memo 
• memorandum 
• news 
• note 
• notice 
• report 
• word