organelle

UK: /ˌɔːɡəˈnɛl/

US: /ˌɔrgəˈnɛl, ˈɔrgəˌnɛl/

US: (ôr′gə nel′, ôr′gə nel′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

or•gan•elle /ˌɔrgəˈnɛl, ˈɔrgəˌnɛl/   n. [countable]

1. Cell Biology a structure within a living cell that has a specific function;
   cell organ.

See -orga-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

or•gan•elle  (ôr′gə nel′, ôr′gə nel′), n. 

1. Cell Biology a specialized part of a cell having some specific function;
   a cell organ.

• Neo-Latin organella, diminutive of Latin organum organ; see -elle
• 1905–10

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

organelle / ˌɔːɡəˈnɛl/ noun

1. a structural and functional unit, such as a mitochondrion, in a cell or unicellular organism

Etymology: 20th Century: from New Latin organella, from Latin organum: see organ