bearer

noun

bear·​er ˈber-ər 

: one that bears: such as

a

: porter sense 1

b

: a plant yielding fruit

c

: pallbearer

d

: one holding a check, draft, bond, or other order for payment especially if marked payable to bearer

—often used attributively

bearer bonds

Examples of bearer in a Sentence

the bearer of a U.S. passport

The check was marked “payable to bearer.”

Recent Examples on the Web

The emergency surgery added to health concerns about the aging president, a standard bearer of the Latin American left who is halfway through his third non-consecutive term. —Reuters, CNN, 10 Dec. 2024

Not to be the bearers of bad news, but your garbage disposal isn’t as good at disposing of garbage as the name implies. —Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 7 Dec. 2024

Matt Brittin, Google’s president, EMEA, is a flag bearer for leadership and resilience. —Byalex Wood Morton, Fortune Europe, 21 Nov. 2024

Viewed another way, Baldwin marginally outperformed her party’s standard bearer, Harris, and that was especially apparent in smaller counties in the north, center and west of the state. —Craig Gilbert, Journal Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bearer

• color-bearer
• live-bearer
• ring bearer
• standard-bearer

Kids Definition

bearer

noun

bear·​er ˈbar-ər 

ˈber-

1

: someone or something that bears, supports, or carries

2

: a person holding a check or order for payment

Legal Definition

bearer

1 of 2 noun

bear·​er ˈbar-ər 

: a person holding a check, draft, or other negotiable instrument for payment especially marked payable to bearer or having a blank endorsement

bearer

2 of 2 adjective

: freely transferable by the holder with or without endorsement and with full title passing by delivery to the transferee: as

a

: not having a registered owner

b

: not designating a specific payee

a bearer instrument

bearer checks

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