courier

noun

cou·​ri·​er ˈku̇r-ē-ər How to pronounce courier (audio)
ˈkər-ē-, 
ˈkə-rē-
Synonyms of courier
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 of courier

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
College student Julie Pierre, 21, feared the worst when her 350 rolls failed to arrive at Hollywood’s Yellow Green Farmers Market last Saturday — and suspected the Uber courier had vanished with her sweet delivery (valued at $3,100). — Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026 The suspects instructed the woman to withdraw cash from her account and hand it over to a courier, who would come to her residence to collect the money, police said. — Jason Green, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2026 Gemma’s increasing frailty and the newfound demands of being a spiritist courier now tasked with the most important job of all provide star Eve a fine enough base to play. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2026 And like the milkman, good-looking couriers delivering the coveted cooling relief became a source of jealousy for insecure husbands. — Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for courier

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of courier was in 1579

Phrases Containing courier

Rhymes for courier

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Browse Nearby Words

courie
courier
courlan
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Cite this Entry

“Courier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/courier. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

courier

noun
cou·​ri·​er ˈku̇r-ē-ər How to pronounce courier (audio)
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

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