courier

noun

cou·​ri·​er ˈku̇r-ē-ər 

ˈkər-ē-,

ˈkə-rē-

1

: messenger: such as

a

: a member of a diplomatic (see diplomatic sense 2) service entrusted with bearing messages

b(1)

: an espionage agent transferring secret information

(2)

: a runner of contraband (see contraband sense 2)

drug couriers

c

: a member of the armed services whose duties include carrying mail, information, or supplies

2

: a traveler's paid attendant

especially : a tourists' guide employed by a travel agency

Synonyms

• bootlegger
• contrabandist
• runner
• smuggler

Examples of courier in a Sentence

Police recently arrested a drug courier in our neighborhood.

A courier just left a package for you on the porch.

Recent Examples on the Web

Election officials will then immediately return to a secure ballot processing center with the ballot courier bag. —Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2024

After starring in 28 Days Later (2002) and sitting out the 2007 sequel 28 Weeks Later, Cillian Murphy reprises his role in 28 Years Later as Jim, a former bicycle courier who previously woke from a coma to find the ‘Rage Virus’ has decimated London. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2024

Mothers worked as couriers for DoorDash and Uber Eats during their daughters’ practices. —Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 23 Oct. 2024

Hadden has been a Navy man, a chef, a courier, a gardener, and more, and has a bucket full of trophies from his likely hundreds of victims from all around the country and from every port in which he was stationed. —Kelly Goodner, IndieWire, 19 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French corier, courrier, borrowed from Italian corriere, from correre "to run" (going back to Latin currere) + -iere -ier — more at current entry 1

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing courier

• vaunt-courier

Kids Definition

courier

noun

cou·​ri·​er ˈku̇r-ē-ər 

ˈkər-ē-,

ˈkə-rē-

: a messenger especially in the diplomatic service

Etymology

Middle English courrier "a person who carries (runs) messages from one place to another quickly," from early Italian corriere (same meaning), derived from Latin currere "to run" — related to current