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

In July one caught fire at a courier hub in Germany and another ignited in a warehouse in England. —Jill Lawless The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 30 Nov. 2024

Russian agents have also been linked to a device which ignited at a courier hub in Germany in July, and another device that caught fire at a courier warehouse in England. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2024

What’s more, food couriers usually lack formal worker status, leaving them without essential labor protections. —Susan F. Lu, run Ge, wenzheng Mao, Harvard Business Review, 27 Nov. 2024

The unit’s efforts include patrols to detect online trafficking and inspections of markets, airports, ports, pet shops, and courier companies. —Mie Hoejris Dahl, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Nov. 2024

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

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