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 of flier

• gamble
• chance
• venture
• throw

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

Its only post office is in danger of closing due to lack of funding, and fliers are posted up on lamp posts asking for financial support from the community. —Xuan Juliana Wang, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026

Worth a flier for QB1 The Panthers want their fourth-year quarterback to succeed in 2026. —Mike Kaye march 12, Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2026

As fliers at some airports across the country encounter heavy delays due to increasing TSA wait times, that’s not the case at Boston’s major travel hub. —Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 11 Mar. 2026

He was also accused of slamming into a truck carrying his opponent’s campaign fliers, though no charges were filed. —Noah Shachtman, Vanity Fair, 10 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing flier

• frequent-flier
• take a flier

Rhymes for flier

• briar
• brier
• buyer
• choir
• crier
• cryer
• drier
• dryer
• eyer
• flyer
• friar
• frier

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