Meaning & use
organelle
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountablebiologytechnical
A tiny structure inside a cell that does a particular job, such as a mitochondrion or nucleus.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'an organelle', 'two organelles'. Usually used in biology.
Patterns
- a cell organelle
- membrane-bound organelle
- the function of an organelle
Mitochondria are organelles that produce energy for the cell.
The nucleus is the largest organelle in most animal cells.
Scientists study how organelles move within a cell.
Word forms
| plural | organelles |
|---|
Common combinations
- membrane-bound organelle
- The Golgi apparatus is a membrane-bound organelle.
- cell organelle
- Each cell organelle has a specific role.
- organelle function
- Researchers mapped organelle function in yeast.
- organelle biogenesis
- Organelle biogenesis is a complex process.
Synonyms and how they differ
- structure
- A general word for any part of a cell; 'organelle' is more precise and technical.
Word family
- organellar adjective
- Relating to an organelle, as in 'organellar DNA'.
Commonly confused: organelle or organism?
organelle vs organism
An organism is a whole living thing (like a plant or animal); an organelle is a part inside its cells.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'organelle' correctly?
Choose one answer.
An organelle is a structure inside a cell, like a mitochondrion. Option 1 is wrong because a human body is an organism, not an organelle. Option 3 is too narrow—organelles are in many cell types. Option 4 is misleading: the cell wall is not usually called an organelle.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “organelle”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.