courier

noun

cou·​ri·​er ˈku̇r-ē-ər 

ˈkər-ē-,

ˈkə-rē-

1

: messenger: such as

a

: a member of a diplomatic (see diplomatic sense 2) service entrusted with bearing messages

b(1)

: an espionage agent transferring secret information

(2)

: a runner of contraband (see contraband sense 2)

drug couriers

c

: a member of the armed services whose duties include carrying mail, information, or supplies

2

: a traveler's paid attendant

especially : a tourists' guide employed by a travel agency

Synonyms

• bootlegger
• contrabandist
• runner
• smuggler

Examples of courier in a Sentence

Police recently arrested a drug courier in our neighborhood.

A courier just left a package for you on the porch.

Recent Examples on the Web

This fee is subject to fuel surcharges and will apply based on the billable weight of the shipment, according to the courier. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 15 Apr. 2025

The victim alertly wrote down the license plate of the alleged courier, who was swiftly arrested, and has since been ordered to pay restitution. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025

Based on a Black List script by Tommy White and Miles Hubley, Runner follows Hank Malone (Ritchson), a high-end courier faced with a harrowing, life-or-death mission: deliver an organ to a 7-year-old girl in need of an immediate transplant. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2025

Offline, thieves pose as couriers, using fake uniforms or IDs to grab packages mid-route or steal them from doorsteps. —Alex Vakulov, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French corier, courrier, borrowed from Italian corriere, from correre "to run" (going back to Latin currere) + -iere -ier — more at current entry 1

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing courier

• vaunt-courier

Rhymes for courier

• furrier
• spurrier

Kids Definition

courier

noun

cou·​ri·​er ˈku̇r-ē-ər 

ˈkər-ē-,

ˈkə-rē-

: a messenger especially in the diplomatic service

Etymology

Middle English courrier "a person who carries (runs) messages from one place to another quickly," from early Italian corriere (same meaning), derived from Latin currere "to run" — related to current