carrier

noun

car·​ri·​er ˈker-ē-ər How to pronounce carrier (audio)
ˈka-rē-
plural carriers
1
: one that carries : bearer, messenger
2
a
: an individual or organization engaged in transporting passengers or goods for hire
b
: a transportation line carrying mail between post offices
c
: a postal employee who delivers or collects mail
d
: one that delivers newspapers
e
: an entity (such as a hole or an electron) capable of carrying an electric charge
3
a
: a container for carrying
b
: a device or machine that carries : conveyor
4
5
a
: a bearer and transmitter of a causative agent of an infectious disease
especially : one who carries the causative agent of a disease systemically but is asymptomatic or immune to it compare reservoir sense 3a, vector entry 1 sense 2a
b
: an individual (such as one heterozygous for a recessive trait) having a specified gene that is not expressed or only weakly expressed in its phenotype
6
a
: a usually inactive accessory substance : vehicle
a carrier for a drug or an insecticide
b
: a substance (such as a catalyst) by whose agency some element or group is transferred from one compound to another
7
a
: an electromagnetic wave or alternating current whose modulations are used as communications signals (as in radio, telephonic, or telegraphic transmissions)
b
: a telecommunication company
8
: an organization acting as an insurer

Examples of carrier in a Sentence

I put the pet carrier in the car. The airline is the nation's largest carrier. Mosquitoes can be carriers of malaria.
Recent Examples on the Web Related: The Best Times to Visit Disney World How to Get There The Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the best airport to fly into, serving a wide range of carriers and routes. Jacqueline Dole, Travel + Leisure, 19 Mar. 2024 In his letter, Kirby said United had already planned some changes before the carrier's run of issues, including adding a day of in-person training for all pilots beginning in May. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2024 Last fall, Austrian Airlines lost a case brought against it by a consumer organization, which accused the carrier of advertising carbon-neutral flights that used 100% sustainable aviation fuel. Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2024 European carriers, for their part, don’t appear to be desperate for a new plane. Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 15 Mar. 2024 Indonesia’s airlines were banned from flying in the United States and the European Union for years after a string of crashes by Indonesian carriers in 2007. Yan Zhuang, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024 And, since many carriers will no longer accept paper claims, printing and mailing the claims is not a viable solution. Democrat-Gazette Staff and Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 9 Mar. 2024 The carrier is currently focused on refining the experience at the existing five airports, but the goal will be to eventually expand the program to all hub airports. Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Mar. 2024 Focus on basic gear like a stroller, car seat and carrier. Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'carrier.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English carier, cariour, from carien "to transport, carry entry 1" + -er, -our -er entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of carrier was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near carrier

Cite this Entry

“Carrier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carrier. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

carrier

noun
car·​ri·​er ˈkar-ē-ər How to pronounce carrier (audio)
1
: one that carries
mail carrier
2
: a person or firm engaged in transporting passengers or goods
3
a
: a bearer and transmitter of disease germs
especially : one who carries germs of a disease (as typhoid fever) in his or her system but is immune to the disease
b
: one who has a gene for a trait or condition (as sickle-cell anemia) that is not expressed in his or her system
4
: an electric wave or alternating current that is used to send signals (as for radio, television, telephone, and telegraph)

Medical Definition

carrier

noun
car·​ri·​er ˈkar-ē-ər How to pronounce carrier (audio)
1
a
: a person, animal, or plant that harbors and transmits the causative agent of an infectious disease
especially : one who carries the causative agent systemically but is asymptomatic or immune to it
a carrier of typhoid fever
compare reservoir sense 2, vector entry 1 sense 2
b
: an individual possessing a specified gene and capable of transmitting it to offspring but not expressing or only weakly expressing its phenotype
especially : one that is heterozygous for a recessive factor
2
: a usually inactive substance used in association with an active substance especially for aiding in the application of the active substance: as
a
: a support for a catalyst
b
: a vehicle serving especially as a diluent (as for an insecticide or a drug)
3
: a substance (as a catalyst) by whose agency some element or group is transferred from one compound to another

Legal Definition

carrier

noun
car·​ri·​er
1
: an individual or entity engaged in transporting passengers or goods for hire by land, water, or air
specifically : common carrier
2
: an insurer that assumes the risks of a policy that it issues to a policyholder
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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