forwarder

noun

for·​ward·​er ˈfȯr-wər-dər 

also ˈfō-

or ˈfȯ-

Southern also ˈfär-

: one that forwards

especially : an agent who performs services (such as receiving, transshipping, or delivering) designed to move goods to their destination

Examples of forwarder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Importers and exporters, shipping companies, warehousing companies, trucking firms, freight forwarders and port terminal operators can all participate in the PCS. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 5 Jan. 2026

The shipper provided the freight forwarder with information about the shipment, including contents, value, destination and recipient, according to the document. —Christina Hall, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025

The shipper provided the freight forwarder with information about the shipment, including contents, value, destination and recipient, according to the document. —Christina Hall, Freep.com, 4 Sep. 2025

Here’s how the scheme plays out: Chinese exporters, often through freight forwarders — companies that handle the logistics of shipping merchandise — understate the value of goods or mislabel them, often both, in the shipping documents to draw lesser duties. —Anniek Bao, CNBC, 20 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

forwarder

noun

for·​ward·​er ˈfȯr-wərd-ər 

: one that forwards