Meaning & use

mitochondria

noun·Academic

Small structures within cells that convert nutrients into usable energy for the cell.

See it in a sentence

Muscle cells contain many mitochondria because they need a constant supply of energy.

Mitochondria carry their own small set of DNA, separate from the cell's nucleus.

A note on using this word

Mitochondria is plural; the singular form is mitochondrion, and it is often called the powerhouse of the cell.

Words with a similar meaning

This term is best learned through its definition and examples.

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “mitochondria”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.