errand

noun

er·​rand ˈer-ənd How to pronounce errand (audio)
ˈe-rənd
Synonyms of errand
1
a
: a short trip taken to attend to some business often for another
was on an errand for his mother
b
: the object or purpose of such a trip
2
archaic
a
: an oral message entrusted to a person
b
: embassy, mission

Examples of errand in a Sentence

He was sent out on an urgent errand. We were there on an errand of mercy to help provide medical care for the refugees.
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.
The Margot Suede Medium Shoulder Bag and Pinch Shoulder Bag are utterly chic and practical for running errands. — Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 3 Sep. 2026 Prosecutors allege Clancy planned the killings by sending her husband out on errands and then strangling the children with exercise bands while he was gone. — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026 Her then-husband, who was running errands at the time, found her outside underneath a second-story window following a suicide attempt that left her paralyzed from the waist down. — Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026 After sending her now ex-husband out on errands and killing her children, Clancy cut herself and tried to kill herself. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for errand

Word History

Etymology

Middle English erend message, business, from Old English ǣrend; akin to Old High German ārunti message

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of errand was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing errand

Rhymes for errand

See All Rhymes for errand

Browse Nearby Words

errancy
errand
errand boy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Errand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/errand. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

errand

noun
er·​rand ˈer-ənd How to pronounce errand (audio)
: a short trip taken to do or get something especially for someone else
also : the object or purpose of such a trip

More from Merriam-Webster on errand

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for errand

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