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

The campaign fliers, written in Vietnamese, began landing in mailboxes in Little Saigon earlier this month. —Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2024

Additionally, those who travel on the actual holiday can save up to 25% on ticket costs, offering an even better deal for budget-conscious fliers. —Stella Shon, Travel + Leisure, 21 Oct. 2024

In each, the idea is to internalize the externalized costs of air travel, raising the cost of commercial and private flights for frequent fliers. —Andrew Leahey, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024

The new service, which begins on July 11, will give US fliers easier access to the southern region of the island, saving them a three-hour train ride from Taipei. —Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 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