bearer

noun

bear·​er ˈber-ər 

: one that bears: such as

a

: porter sense 1

b

: a plant yielding fruit

c

: pallbearer

d

: one holding a check, draft, bond, or other order for payment especially if marked payable to bearer

—often used attributively

bearer bonds

Examples of bearer in a Sentence

the bearer of a U.S. passport

The check was marked “payable to bearer.”

Recent Examples on the Web

Saturday’s all-day schedule features sets by zydeco accordion maestro Ruben Moreno, Cajun standard bearers the Riley Family Band with David Greely and Sam Broussard, and soulful accordionist/vocalist Geno Delafose, scion of a zydeco dynasty. —Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026

More important is the existence of bearer-like assets which can be accessed by the public globally without having to go through an army of intermediaries. —Omid Malekan, Fortune, 21 Jan. 2026

Applying these models to bearer style assets or peer to peer networks can raise practical questions about feasibility, proportionality, and effectiveness. —Susie Violet Ward, Forbes.com, 19 Jan. 2026

Ingredients leading the sour shift Several ingredients are the flag bearers for the sour movement. —Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bearer

• color-bearer
• live-bearer
• ring bearer
• standard-bearer

Rhymes for bearer

• carer
• error
• fairer
• ferrer
• rarer
• sharer
• terror
• wearer
• cupbearer
• declarer
• preparer
• repairer

Kids Definition

bearer

noun

bear·​er ˈbar-ər 

ˈber-

1

: someone or something that bears, supports, or carries

2

: a person holding a check or order for payment

Legal Definition

bearer

1 of 2 noun

bear·​er ˈbar-ər 

: a person holding a check, draft, or other negotiable instrument for payment especially marked payable to bearer or having a blank endorsement

bearer

2 of 2 adjective

: freely transferable by the holder with or without endorsement and with full title passing by delivery to the transferee: as

a

: not having a registered owner

b

: not designating a specific payee

a bearer instrument

bearer checks

compare order