message

American  

[mes-ij] / ˈmɛs ɪdʒ /

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.

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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.

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.

message British  

/ 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

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verb

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

message More Idioms  

1. see get the message.

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Other Word Forms

• intermessage
  noun

Etymology

Origin of message

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

Explanation

A message is a communication or statement conveyed from one person or group to another. If you call my house phone and I’m out running an errand, you’ll be asked to “please leave a message after the beep.” Generally transmitted verbally or in writing, a message can also be sent via a look or a gesture. In today’s world, people tend to use email to send a short message. But in ye olden days, pre-internet and when the post was faster, people relied on the art of letter writing to send a message. The noun can also have a moral or pointed implication. For instance, the story's moral message was to always tell the truth.

Example Sentences

“He hit the nail on the head with this message and delivery,” said Jesse Kanson-Benanav, executive director of Abundant Housing Massachusetts, a Yimby group in the state.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

At UC Berkeley, a campuswide message urged users not to log into Canvas.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

Then a radio message comes through that plain-clothes officers have seen six or seven youths in balaclavas.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

Meanwhile, it’s become easy for top bosses to contact junior employees directly — for example, with a Slack message — instead of communicating, as in the past, through layers of management.

From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026

“With the Equal Justice League? I left a message to speak with you at your place of employ.”

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

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