flier

noun

fli·​er ˈflī(-ə)r 

variants or less commonly flyer

1

: one that flies

She's a frequent flier on that airline.

specifically : airman

He was a flier on an aircraft carrier.

2

: a reckless or speculative venture

—usually used in the phrase take a flier

He took a flier in politics soon after getting his degree.

3

usually flyer : an advertising circular

Flyers announcing the concert were distributed throughout the city.

Synonyms

• adventure
• chance
• crapshoot
• enterprise
• flutter [chiefly British]
• gamble
• speculation
• throw
• venture

Examples of flier in a Sentence

These birds are graceful fliers.

They distributed flyers announcing the concert throughout the city.

Recent Examples on the Web

Today, fliers from past concerts cover the walls of the restaurant, immersing customers in the club’s history. —Steve Donofrio, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024

Despite their small size, puffins are impressive fliers and swimmers, adapted to life on both land and sea. —Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 5 Sep. 2024

The hierarchy varies per airline, but factors might include frequent flier status, fare class, and check-in time. —Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 23 July 2024

Leave a comment View Comments In addition to the aforementioned fliers and texts, DaLuise’s tires were also slashed. —Oscar Holland, CNN, 16 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing flier

• frequent-flier
• take a flier

Kids Definition

flier

noun

fli·​er

variants also flyer

ˈflī(-ə)r

1

: one that flies

especially : pilot entry 1 sense 3

2

: an undertaking (as in business) that involves much risk

3

: an advertising circular